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Mon, 8 Nov 1999 18:07:45 -0800 |
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Karl Miller wrote:
>>I am reminded of something one of my teachers once suggested. Her idea was
>>to place a ban on the music of Beethoven for some unspecified time period.
>>It would give everyone an opportunity to explore repertoire and after the
>>end of the ban, we might have a different perspective on Beethoven's music.
>>Obviously one could add Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, et al to the
>>equation.
Can't agree with this idea. HOw long would the ban last? A year? 5? 10?
What of all the young people who've never heard a Beethoven symphony? Why
should they have to wait?
Julia Werthimer ([log in to unmask]) responded:
>I personally think this would be an excellent idea. Beethoven badly needs
>a rest, poor old fellow. Wonderful as he is, he does have a bombastic
>side; and because he is performed so much he has to endure more than
>his share of perfunctory performances. In London last winter I went to
>a concert that featured Sarah Chang playing a Bartok violin concerto,
>followed by the Beethoven 7th. The orchestra was on fire for the Bartok;
>the Beethoven was just ho-hum. Give the guy a sabbatical!
Well, that's probabably more a refelction on the conductor and/or the
orchestra.
Just 10 days ago I attened the dress rehearsal (couldn't make the
performance) of the Eroica by the University of Victoria Orchestra.
Technically it left a few things to be desired (although the conductor
told me that the things they'd worked on had all been better on the night)
but it was a tremendously exciting performance - they'd never played it
before, you see...
Deryk Barker
[log in to unmask]
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