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Sunday, February 13, 2005 at 7 pm
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 7:30 pm

A Custom-composed Valentine

by Victoria Looseleaf

Roses, chocolates and diamonds are decidedly beautiful sentiments, but giving your true love the gift of custom-composed music trumps all. At least that’s what Cliff Eidelman has been doing since first setting eyes on wife Claire in 1987 when they were both USC music students. Theirs was a relationship that bloomed into a feast for the ears, as well, with Eidelman, 40, writing a number of works inspired by Claire, including the lush opus, Wedding in the Night Garden.

“It’s quite an honor,” Quebec-born Claire explains, “and I’m very, very touched by that. This music came from the heart and soul, and Cliff was inspired by something deep inside him.”

Though many women dream of being a muse, Claire acknowledges it’s not all art all the time (the couple has one young child and another on the way). “I’d like to say it would be nice to only be the ethereal muse, but there’s also many needs. In French,” adds Claire, “we have an expression — fleur de peau — meaning Cliff’s emotions are very much on the surface, so he always needs to process everything.”

Indeed, Claire, 43, says she assumes the role of listener, “whether it’s at 3am or 3pm,” and that her husband may wake up in the middle of the night and insist upon talking about the music in his head. But, unlike many an artist who thrives on solitude and won’t let tunes be heard until they’re completed, Claire says her husband is the opposite.

“When he’s coming up with themes on a project, he wants me to sit there just like a model is posing for a painter, and he’ll be staring at me. It seems to inspire him. If I could be there all the time, he would be very happy.”

And if that sounds like a huge responsibility or the portrait of a tormented artist, Claire explains that Cliff also has a dash of Mozart in his personality. “He likes to play and have fun, and he’s very, very deep and at the same time, very youthful.”

Claire understands her role is not that of critic or to suggest changes in the music. “I will, from time to time,” she points out, “express in a subtle way what I think could sound good. As a wife, I realize Cliff wants more of an ear and unconditional support — basically, my love.”

Download a guide to the season: chorale-seasonguide0405.pdf, 808KB