Írma Kolássi (1918-2012) was a Greek-born French mezzo-soprano, admired in French song, opera and modern repertory. She became especially associated with refined text-based singing.

In the Pristine catalogue she appears with Jascha Horenstein in Berg and Schoenberg, including music that requires vocal intelligence as much as beauty of tone.

Kolássi’s singing was clear, concentrated and verbally acute, well suited to repertory where expression is carried through colour, interval and syllable.

Her page is justified by stature and repertory context. Kolássi brings a sharply focused mezzo light to the modern-music shelf.