I know this is classical music nerdy, but here is a master class in the conductors craft. Grainy, dull, black and white, yet riveting. The late, great, Carlos Kleiber conducting at Bayreuth. The soprano is Catarina Ligendza. Thanks for the tip, Alex Ross
World Trade Center Tribute
Here is a really great short essay on why serious music is important.
The Shostakovich 4th is one of my most favorite pieces perhaps due to the way I first heard it; performed by the Boston Symphony, me a naive college student walking in completely unprepared. I walked out a different person.
My idea of cultural mecca is the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago. It’s has a spectacular old world lobby and is just steps away from the Art Institute and Symphony Hall.
I took advantage of it’s proximity to the latter tonight and attended a performance (under Bernard Haitink) of Webern Im Sommerwind, Mahler Ruckert Lieder (with Christianne Stotijn) and Brahms Symphony Number 1.
To an orchestral music lover, this is a multi-course meal at a fabulous restaurant. One comes away content on a number of levels, marveling at the display of mastery that one has just witnessed. And, ultimately, the only thing one takes away is a memory.
The Webern was the biggest surprise. A huge romantic tone poem from the master of modernist miniatures. I will use this piece, in addition to Schoenberg’s Gurralieder and Transfigured Night as proof that one needs to have complete mastery of the current language before one can explore new worlds with any credibility.
The Ruckert Lieder is to me kind of an odd combination of songs but also is Mahler at his time-suspending best (and of reasonable length…see my earlier post about Mahler).
However, if you are thinking about getting into classical music, is there any better vehicle than the 4th (last) movement of the Brahms first symphony? This is the response of the first composing genius after Beethoven, dealing with legacy of his predecessor.
Even if you don’t know anything about classical music, this music will move you. There is something so perfect about the chord progressions and that wonderful choral harmony. It just works. It’s kind of like water, you just know that you need it and that it is good for you.
It’s hard to not get choked up when an aging conductor, clearly moving slowly on his second curtain call, instead of turning to face the thunderous applause and standing ovation, pauses, with his back to the audience, beaming at the orchestra and making a subtle, sort of stiff gesture with his right hand. Only when he is certain that the message of “it wasn’t just me, we did this as a team” is transmitted, does he turn and face his appreciative audience.
I’m trying to reach the others, the ones who haven’t discovered their personal connection with classical (serious) music. Is it possible that my deliberate choice of the previous words might offend some people? Hopefully, because my point is; how can you question whether or not a higher power exists after one has experienced Beethoven, Brahms, Bartok or Shostokovich?
The purpose of music is to communicate emotion, in a non-verbal and therefore a more pure way. Mahler said one of his Ruckert Lieder should convey “the way one feels in the presence of a beloved being of whom one is completely sure without a single word needing to be spoken”. Maybe that’s too sappy for some, but if the concept of music expressing this detailed an emotion is new to you…LISTEN UP!! You have no idea what you are missing!
So, let’s pretend there is this prospect, a guy who has been pestering dealers up and down the east coast for a couple of weeks. He doesn’t play, is relocating and well to do, looking to buy a piano for his family and wants to buy something good. He started looking for a used Steinway because he knew that was what he should get, right?
Well, let’s pretend that a skilled dealer delivered his “epiphany”, namely that there are wonderful high end pianos in the world and none of them are built in Queens! Now lets say the problem is that he has (remember, we’re pretending) a very incorrect notion of what these instruments cost and is beating up every dealer trying to buy one of these instruments ( a very specific model) below cost. Seems he’s a big shot financier and, well, you probably know the type.
I’m very very happy that he had his epiphany. But here is the rub.
An epiphany without conversion is, well, pointless.
I’m a big fan of Schiff. Terrifically thoughtful and sensitive pianist with very clear ideas of what he is looking for. Can’t really argue with that. AND, he stays away from all the big barn burner Romantic warhorses. Thank you…no really, thank you.
Andras and I used to be friendly a while ago (well, about 25 years ago) when I was a technician preparing a number of concert pianos for him.I got a chance to see up close his very individual approach to interpretation. As are most musicians at this level, he was warm and funny as heck.
If the Shostakovitch doesn’t bring tears to your eyes, then maybe you haven’t heard enough really good orchestras!
TED interview with Jose Antonio Abreu, founder of El Sistema, the youth music program in Venezula.
It’s about 16 minutes long, but worth it.
In Troubled Times: The Case for the Arts
Compelling article by conductor JoAnn Falletta on the importance of classical music
