tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.comments2013-12-11T01:07:14.777+11:00culture.politics.opinionCPOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03950328652979318263noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-42698322115108583562013-12-11T01:07:14.777+11:002013-12-11T01:07:14.777+11:00Interesting, the theme of determined desire, renou...Interesting, the theme of determined desire, renouncement, followed by fulfillment. This must be part of what gives the opera its universal and timeless quality. Lucky finding a librettist able to match Strauss's always compelling music. I can see why you felt so moved by the performance. Enjoyed sharing your insight!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-90771420413994962202011-08-23T12:06:43.746+10:002011-08-23T12:06:43.746+10:00Ah, yes, I'm a big Noseda fan, tooAh, yes, I'm a big Noseda fan, tooCPOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03950328652979318263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-55715579093627050152011-08-04T22:09:18.961+10:002011-08-04T22:09:18.961+10:00Oh...and to illustrate my point. It was conducted ...Oh...and to illustrate my point. It was conducted 'athletically' by Thierry Fischer. Though 'vibratoless', I've never seen the bowing arms of the string players work so hard. In my opinion it worked. The intensity has to come from somewhere. Speaking of intense, Gianandrea Noseda's conducting of Listz' Dante Symphony was breathtaking...oh, if only the orchestra could have gone all the way with him! They were Brits afterall...need an inordinate amount of foreplay.<br /><br />Watch out for Marc Andre Dalbavie. His flute concerto was stunning. A 'real' 21st century composer... ;)dithuramboshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03927493105806912623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-17384399945268086182011-08-03T18:48:17.935+10:002011-08-03T18:48:17.935+10:00Thanks for the thoughts. Most interesting. Klemper...Thanks for the thoughts. Most interesting. Klemperer also conducted while seated near the end of his life. Another interesting character!CPOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03950328652979318263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-54726844170983240652011-08-01T21:21:39.648+10:002011-08-01T21:21:39.648+10:00What struck me about Norrington's conducting w...What struck me about Norrington's conducting was that he was 'too old' for it. He conducted from a sitting position. Whether it is about Mahler's passing out of this world or not, it tars it with a different baton when conducted by someone who 'does' believe he doesn't have much time left-as seemed to be the case with Norrington. It was strangely cold and remote, which ironically may come from the fact that Norrington may identify with it too closely-or even sentimentally. Any 'drama' whether theatre or music needs some virility or life force. One must actively play against text or music to bring out the more passive emotions. Passivity - succumbing in any form - grief, sorrow, death - becomes indulgent if it is just 'expressed' as such.<br /><br />Another issue with the lack of vibrato was that it was very difficult for the orchestra to stay in tune and keep vitality through to the end of the note.<br /><br />I saw Beethoven done in exactly the same way, and while it was some fifteen minutes shorter than usual...it does seem that conductors are subject to fads and trends as much as anybody else in commercial fashion.dithuramboshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03927493105806912623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-15703611627680674602011-07-27T12:23:35.403+10:002011-07-27T12:23:35.403+10:00Thanks for the thoughts on Britten and Pears. As f...Thanks for the thoughts on Britten and Pears. As for Mahler, I think we need to be careful about using too much hindsight. There is an excellent article on the subject which indicates that Mahler was not obssessed with death in his final years. See here: http://www.jstor.org/pss/746905CPOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03950328652979318263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-44197387118764203482011-07-26T22:58:36.567+10:002011-07-26T22:58:36.567+10:00I recently visited the Red House in Aldeburgh and ...I recently visited the Red House in Aldeburgh and the Snape Maltings. Not being a great admirer of Pear's voice - apart from his 'interpretation' of Britten (then again, written specifically with his voice in mind) - I always imagined Britten had the true talent and drive. Visiting their home and environs and the festival they cojointly established, I'm not so sure. I think it was truly a case of their creative relationship achieving more than the sum of their parts (so to speak!)...truly inspiring relationship that has transcended their individual personalities and their deaths, as their project at Snape continues to live and move and 'evolve' today.<br /><br />As for Mr Mahler: I was at the BBC proms last night - and without the frissons of Death and Mrs Mahler's infidelity, I doubt whether he would have produced his finest later works. Perhaps they could do with some 'editing' though? ;)dithuramboshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03927493105806912623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-16588490447485964732011-03-28T19:30:47.431+11:002011-03-28T19:30:47.431+11:00haha. nonono Australia's the Auntie land and S...haha. nonono Australia's the Auntie land and Singapore's the Nanny land. hahaPunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11295427853179480259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-90723171768100493882010-11-10T12:40:04.249+11:002010-11-10T12:40:04.249+11:00I think well-written, visceral and thoughtful film...I think well-written, visceral and thoughtful films like <i>Downfall</i> (which I know I always go on about) can also be important in combating the "mythicisation" of Hitler and Nazism.<br /><br />I know there was some concern when <i>Downfall</i> was released that it was problematic to humanise Hitler, but I feel that the problem lies in seeing him as <i>not-human</i>. If we categorise the Nazi horrors as utterly alien, as monstrous or mythical (and hence not truly relevant today), we're less likely to acknowledge, admit and resist such evil if/when it surfaces afresh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-59639013528946624022010-07-17T23:17:46.812+10:002010-07-17T23:17:46.812+10:00Nice connection. Thanks.Nice connection. Thanks.CPOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03950328652979318263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-23287616672700405072010-07-10T20:58:13.336+10:002010-07-10T20:58:13.336+10:00It's telling that when Penderecki embraced pos...It's telling that when Penderecki embraced post-modern language his model was Mahler.Dean Rzhttp://sites.google.com/site/nemoeditions/Homenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-82484431297663861942010-04-27T22:28:13.119+10:002010-04-27T22:28:13.119+10:00A great article indeed and a very detailed, realis...A great article indeed and a very detailed, realistic and superb analysis, of these books, very nice write up, Thanks.Term papershttp://www.ghostpapers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-84300351797292064842010-04-09T23:10:51.003+10:002010-04-09T23:10:51.003+10:00I suppose there is always this hidden trait in eve...I suppose there is always this hidden trait in everyone to wish to belong to some elite group or exclusive group of sorts.. and art seems to be the easiest ideological tool to make use of in order to attain this sense of 'exclusiveness/superiority'. To be proven that one has 'good taste'. <br />Democratisation of art probably only applies to the expansion in the forms of art being accepted, thus the categories of art. However, within all the expanded art works/forms/preferences, the groups would always tend to seek for some kind of guidance/leadership.<br />We can never escape from power play through making judgements as long as there is any ground for comparison.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-83805185559944267752010-02-23T18:35:11.865+11:002010-02-23T18:35:11.865+11:00Ah... the age-old debate.. It's all about stan...Ah... the age-old debate.. It's all about standards and where to draw the line.. reminds me of a quote "Art, like morality, means drawing that line somewhere". I suppose everytime a decision is made with regards to things like this, a new line is drawn.. somewhere.Punnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-59222671633277035302010-02-23T18:28:19.221+11:002010-02-23T18:28:19.221+11:00Haha, I guess this is what they call the illusion ...Haha, I guess this is what they call the illusion of choice.. Though we like to say that it should be quality over quantity, but I guess the public like to think that with more choices, they can actually make better choices.. Isn't the idea of democracy somewhat similar...?? I wonder.. =] especially with regards to your previous post on Sarkozy, if people are chosing based on what they know (limited information, since complete knowledge seems impossible), then the knowledge which they are basing their choice on, can be somewhat true, or it can be completely false! <br /><br />I guess Andy Warhol's statement that everyone should be famous for 15 minutes, probably is one of the main culprits for releasing this innate exhibitionist nature of ours, causing us to strive to be seen and heard on tv or in other ways... haha the ludicrous human condition!Punnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-3553246376256095842010-02-23T18:21:50.255+11:002010-02-23T18:21:50.255+11:00Isn't art always used as a tool/exploited by t...Isn't art always used as a tool/exploited by the power bloc? (Either to educate in the form of spreading certain ideology, or in this case, to manipulate the public's opinion of the politian.) In the former, it was the patron who directly exploits artists, the later, the exploitation of the idea of art. Sarkozy's been very smart at using the mediato his advantage, both pre and post elections. I guess that's why he is a politian.. and Í'm not.. =]Punnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-56549337553767567472009-11-08T21:02:58.141+11:002009-11-08T21:02:58.141+11:00Thanks for dropping by John. I heard the LPO was g...Thanks for dropping by John. I heard the LPO was good. Unfortunately I didn't make it to either of their concerts.CPOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03950328652979318263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-33485474509733531472009-11-04T17:00:10.021+11:002009-11-04T17:00:10.021+11:00Very true Brian,
I totally forgot all about the In...Very true Brian,<br />I totally forgot all about the International Festival even though I attended the LPO. However, even attending the LPO seemed far removed from a "festival" atmosphere.<br />I usually go to the Spiegaltent and I'm absolutley disappointed that it never arrived this year. I'm interested to know how successful the festival was. - John AdamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-14725985170377271182009-10-05T06:33:36.721+11:002009-10-05T06:33:36.721+11:00do you just mean he was inconsistent?do you just mean he was inconsistent?Leonig Mighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570823683366887121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-64795545287237776562009-09-24T17:00:04.485+10:002009-09-24T17:00:04.485+10:00Hi Brian,
I know you posted your article on &quo...Hi Brian, <br /><br />I know you posted your article on "Basterds" a while ago and come to think of it, I didn't close my post (maya's hunger got the better of me). But, I have just come across an article written by Adi Schertzer, a graduate of Israel Open Uni Department of History , Philisophy and Judaic Studies and a cinema critic for Kippa. <br /> For interest's sake I thought I'd post the link.<br /><br />Her stance does not suprise me since she sent the artilce into a rather right winged religious source but I also tend to agree with some of her contentions. <br />www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3780825,00.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-2225164152111997042009-09-14T22:26:54.780+10:002009-09-14T22:26:54.780+10:00Don't you have a suggestion, John?Don't you have a suggestion, John?CPOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03950328652979318263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-14067182488332639242009-09-14T22:25:07.935+10:002009-09-14T22:25:07.935+10:00You will enjoy it, John. I think you can get it in...You will enjoy it, John. I think you can get it in the Uni library. <br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />BrianCPOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03950328652979318263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-75729634931583053302009-09-11T18:44:45.282+10:002009-09-11T18:44:45.282+10:00hehehe that is a great quote!
i will certainly hav...hehehe that is a great quote!<br />i will certainly have to get a copy of this film as i am very passionate and obsessed with WWII and Post war history and politics<br />thanks brian - John AdamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-19715026564356557262009-09-11T18:37:44.784+10:002009-09-11T18:37:44.784+10:00hmmm, another case of ambiguity.
It becomes more e...hmmm, another case of ambiguity.<br />It becomes more evident every day that there must be a collective word for what "arts" and "culture" is when dealing with politics. Politics is confusing enough as it is! - John AdamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7892518901229793031.post-4585122953070148072009-08-26T20:30:24.751+10:002009-08-26T20:30:24.751+10:00Hi Francis,
nice to hear from you and thanks for ...Hi Francis,<br /><br />nice to hear from you and thanks for reading the blog. I agree the Brits are also candidates for the "getting away with murder" award. We are all well here, hope you are, too.<br /><br />BrianCPOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03950328652979318263noreply@blogger.com