My most recent blog was yet another plea that the music of Arthur Farwell – America’s most important cancelled concert composer – become known. I posted the world premiere recording of Farwell’s amazing Hako String Quartet. In response, I have received an amazing comment from Curt Cacioppo. Since it’s buried in the comments section of my blog, I’m reposting it here so that it … [Read more...] about BURIED TREASURE: Farwell’s Forbidden “Hako” Quartet — Take Two
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BURIED TREASURE: Arthur Farwell’s “Hako” — Will String Quartets Have the Courage to Perform It?
In the world of classical music, it sometimes happens that a major work lies dormant, undiscovered and unperformed, for a very long time. Consider the case of The Trojans, today known as a peak achievement in Romantic opera. Berlioz finished composing it in 1858. The first complete performance took place in 1890. Not until Colin Davis championed and recorded The … [Read more...] about BURIED TREASURE: Arthur Farwell’s “Hako” — Will String Quartets Have the Courage to Perform It?
Copland and Joe McCarthy on NPR – a “Surreal Experience”
“Aaron Copland and the Spirit of Labor Day” – the radio documentary I was delighted to produce for the enterprising NPR newsmagazine “1A” – is archived here. I received a wonderfully bristling response from Steve Robinson, who for more than a decade ran WFMT/Chicago when it was (by far) the best classical-music radio station in the US. Steve writes: “The Copland program … [Read more...] about Copland and Joe McCarthy on NPR – a “Surreal Experience”
Joe McCarthy Grills Aaron Copland: “As your Communist Party record is extremely long . . . “
“As your Communist Party record is extremely long, I think counsel [i.e., Roy Cohn] will want to ask you some questions. . . . Those who underestimate the work the staff has done in the past end up occasionally before a Grand Jury.” --Senator Joseph McCarthy, addressing Aaron Copland (May 26, 1953) This chilling audio re-enactment, with Edward Gero as McCarthy, is an … [Read more...] about Joe McCarthy Grills Aaron Copland: “As your Communist Party record is extremely long . . . “
Toradze’s Piano Stories — Take Two
My recent posting of Behrouz Jamali's extraordinary film about Alexander Toradze produced a couple of comments so extraordinary that I'm re-posting them here. The first is from David Bondy, an attorney who was once in artists' management: I too have been mesmerized by Toradze’s recording of the Prokofiev 2. The first movement unfolds like no one else’s. Others who tackle … [Read more...] about Toradze’s Piano Stories — Take Two