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Tue, 4 Dec 2007 16:18:07 -0800 |
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Christopher Webber writes:
> Mr. Morrison responded as he did to Joyce Hatto's Rachmaninov, largely
> because as he listened he had before him the vision of plucky, little old
> lady battling not only Rachmaninov but cancer. He responded as most of
> us I hope would, with generous admiration for her remarkable achievement.
> Unless we're looking for a mechanised objectivity which would be intolerable
> even if it were achievable, I think we should rather applaud his humanity than
> deride his critical acumen.
I can't agree in the least with Mr. Webber. First, let me state that
I have no interest in deriding Mr. Morrison's critical acumen. He is
human and made a mistake; I would simply hope that he would accept his
error, give thought as to how to avoid such errors in the future and
just move on with his life.
I also have no interest in applauding his humanity, because that's not
his job as a reviewer of recordings. That Ms. Hatto was very sick is
not relevant when commenting on the merits of a recorded performance.
As a reader of reviews, I don't want reviewers giving a performer brownie
points for poor health. Put another way, have we reached the point where
the "health-o-meter" is a consideration in the reviewer's conclusions?
I hope not.
Hatto's husband conducted a criminal activity for self-serving purposes.
He conned the world of classical music but was eventually exposed for
the "low-life" person he has been for decades. I have no knowledge that
Ms. Hatto had any involvement in this mess and harbor no ill feelings
towards her. However, that certainly does not mean that I am going to
award her any accolades for contracting a deadly disease. The fact is
that this whole mess revolves around her husband; he's the guy to
concentrate on.
Don Satz
[log in to unmask]
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