Donald Satz at [log in to unmask] wrote:

>The composer Ned Rorem provided an article in a recent Gramophone.  I found
>some of his statements very interesting:
>
>"The performer has become the star - the recreator is more important
>than the creator.  Itzhak Perlman lives across the street from me -
>he seems very imperious and self-satisfied and not an adventurous
>performer - but he makes in one evening what I make in five years."
>
>Do you think there's something wrong with this situation, or is Rorem just
>having a case of "sour grapes"?

It has always been the case - performance lasts only as long as the
performer.  Beethoven the virtuoso was well paid and invited into the best
homes - Beethoven the composer was allowed to scrabble for pennies.  Mozart
the virtuoso travelled europe, Mozart the composer had to work quite hard
to get second billing behind others.  Liszt made his pile as - a virtuoso.

Stirling Newberry
http://www.mp3.com/ssn
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