Norman Lebrecht has had enough of the Karajan worship that seems to be pervading Europe on the occasion of the maestro’s centenary. “Hitler’s poster boy offered nothing to art while ruthlessly crushing creativity… If classical music itself is widely (if unfairly) considered to be elitist, staid and retrospective, we have Herbert von Karajan to thank for making it a safe, corporate entertainment at prohibitively priced festivals.”
Tag: 04.06.08
Dudamania Sweeping LA
The LA Philharmonic has been sparing no expense in playing up its appointment of Venezuelan sensation Gustavo Dudamel as its next music director. And it seems that Angelenos are buying into the hype, selling out The Dude’s (yes, that’s his new nickname) concerts, gossiping about him on local blogs, and even naming a hot dog after him at the city’s most famous dog stand.
CBC Asks Listeners For Patience
The CBC is imploring Canadians to give the revamped Radio 2 (less classical music, more jazz and pop) a chance before judging it to be unworthy. “Thousands of Canadians are worried that CBC Radio is giving up on classical music, that the musical offerings will be the same as the meagre fare being offered on commercial radio, and that the broadcaster is not living up to its public mandate.”
Save The Symphony By Making It About The Music
Ever since the Columbus Symphony announced that it was at risk of shutting down, arts supporters have been trying to muster broader interest in preserving the orchestra. But are the words we use to drum up such support part of the problem? “Describing the symphony as a cultural-arts institution is like describing the Columbus Zoo as a department of biology. It doesn’t sing. Let’s focus on the music, not the institution.”
Remembering A Modernist Icon
Architect and educator Ralph Rapson, whose stark, modernist structures defined an era of mid-20th century American design, died last week at age 93. “Rapson’s career, which included scores of houses, churches and performing-arts centers, mixed triumph and disappointment.”