Reviewing Fiona Maddocks’ beautiful new book on Sergei Rachmaninoff in exile for The American Scholar, I write: “With the waning of modernism, Rachmaninoff’s stock began to rise; for the first time, he became an object of serious scholarly inquiry. Today, he ranks with Igor Stravinsky, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Serge Prokofiev as one of four great Russian composers … [Read more...] about Rachmaninoff in Exile: “Implacable Poise and Sovereign Humanity”
“Tannhäuser” — Take Four
Conrad L. Osborne has now chimed in with a typically riveting review of the Met Tannhäuser, bristling with insights into the opera and its performance last December 12. Read it. As a brief postscript to my three previous Tannhäuser blogs, and Conrad’s blog, would like to draw particular attention to his observations about the current condition of the Met … [Read more...] about “Tannhäuser” — Take Four
“Tannhäuser” — Take Three
The Ride of the Valkyries, from Francois Rochaix's Seattle "Ring" The emails continue to roll in, responding to my two Tannhäuser blogs. Here’s one from a former member of the Met orchestra: “Your two articles pretty much describe what I observed at the Met during my 40-plus years with the Met Orchestra. The best performances I had a chance to … [Read more...] about “Tannhäuser” — Take Three
“Tannhäuser” — Take Two
On the heels of my Tannhäuser blog, Conrad L. Osborne has posted yet another of his indispensable mega-essays – on the topic of cultivating American opera. I wrote: “The arts are today vanishing from the American experience. There is a crisis in cultural memory. How best keep Tannhäuser alive? Flooded with neophytes, the Metropolitan Opera … [Read more...] about “Tannhäuser” — Take Two
A Timely Old “Tannhäuser” at the Met
"Tannhauser," act two, at the Metropolitan Opera The Met’s current revival of Otto Schenk’s 1977 production of Wagner’s Tannhäuser is an event unthinkable in any European house – perhaps unthinkable in any other American house. Designed by Gunther Schneider-Siemssen, this was a rare attempt to faithfully render Wagner’s complex scenic intentions, albeit with access to … [Read more...] about A Timely Old “Tannhäuser” at the Met