Composer Mt. Rushmore

[ChamberNut]

The world famous Mt. Rushmore of South Dakota

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln

Who would you include on a "Mt. Rushmore" of composers? 

[The new erato]

That position is already occupied by Deep Purple:

[marvinbrown]

That position is already occupied by Deep Purple:

  Regrettably (for Deep Purple that is) their lease has just expired, current permanent tenants:

    Richard Wagner, Ludwig van Beethoven, Giuseppe Verdi, W.A. Mozart   


  marvin

[paulb]

  Regrettably (for Deep Purple that is) their lease has just expired, current permanent tenants:

    Richard Wagner, Ludwig van Beethoven, Giuseppe Verdi, W.A. Mozart   


  marvin

In time 2 of the 4 facial profiles will crumble into dust.
2 will out live all earthquakes and never will see erosion.
I'd love to see Schnittke and Pettersson carved in a  beautiful face cliff in the grand canyon, no better on

http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/zion/phototour/zion-national-park.htm

the most beautiful place in america
Mt zion /Grand canyon area.
I went there in sept.
i plan to go back every yr, in fact could very well just travel those mountains til death.
A very Holy place, fitting for Pettersson and Schnittke.

[Guido]

In time 2 of the 4 facial profiles will crumble into dust.

I'm guessing one is Verdi but who is the other?

[karlhenning]

(Oh, I'm not getting into it, no, I'm not . . . .)

[paulb]

(Oh, I'm not getting into it, no, I'm not . . . .)

Karl whats the matter, sad to see your deep Purple In rock take the crumble
I use to love that album, sort of underground DP, Sweet Child In Time, great song.

Guido, you guessed right about Verdi, nothing to guess about that.
as to the other, I think Debussy and Ravel could guess that other.

[marvinbrown]

  Pity, pity that romantic opera as a form of artistic musical expression is treated with such disrespect by the members of the GMG forum.

  marvin

[paulb]

  Pity, pity that romantic opera as a form of artistic musical expression is treated with such disrespect by the members of the GMG forum.

  marvin

I recall James Levine in discussion with a  few NY Met oprera buffs at intermission on some opera, some second rate operra, anyway he said to the effect:
"ohh yeah baby, we are going to bring back the OLD glory to the NYM, we'll bring back Verdi and we won't give a  damn what anyone says"
His buddy said with a  chuckle " yeah those damn modernists, we RULE , our Levine has the baton of power, we rule baby"

I felt so disgusted at this lack of consideration of what the younger generation really wants to hear.
It never ceases to amaze and stupify me as to how verdi ever came to any popularity.
the only idea I can imagine is for the fact the italians had so few real composers of any significane, so to make them not too jealous of the other more creative europeans, the europeans gave 2 thumbs up to Verdi, to pacify the italians and so they would also feel like they are in the CM family too.
Other than Puccini, who else does the italians offer?
Out of italy, the only music i care to listen to is a  bit from Vivaldi, and one opera from Puccini, Turandot.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I recall James Levine in discussion with a  few NY Met oprera buffs at intermission on some opera, some second rate operra, anyway he said to the effect:
"ohh yeah baby, we are going to bring back the OLD glory to the NYM, we'll bring back Verdi and we won't give a  damn what anyone says"
His buddy said with a  chuckle " yeah those damn modernists, we RULE , our Levine has the baton of power, we rule baby"

I felt so disgusted at this lack of consideration of what the younger generation really wants to hear.
It never ceases to amaze and stupify me as to how verdi ever came to any popularity.
the only idea I can imagine is for the fact the italians had so few real composers of any significane, so to make them not too jealous of the other more creative europeans, the europeans gave 2 thumbs up to Verdi, to pacify the italians and so they would also feel like they are in the CM family too.
Other than Puccini, who else does the italians offer?
Out of italy, the only music i care to listen to is a  bit from Vivaldi, and one opera from Puccini, Turandot.

Just out of my curiosity, how much Verdi have you ever heard? I'm not talking 1-minute clips now, either.

[Wendell_E]

Just out of my curiosity, how much Verdi have you ever heard? I'm not talking 1-minute clips now, either.

Also, which is greater:  the amount of Verdi paulb's heard, or the amount of "modernist" music Levine's conducted?     Not conducted at the Met, to be sure, but he's got to deal with a fairly conservative board, General Manager, and audience there.

It's hard to believe Levine said he'd "brought back Verdi" to the Met.  Verdi's always been a major presence there.

[The new erato]

Verdi's a great composer, its just (I think) that much romantic emotion (of the heart on the sleeve kind) as typified by romantic opera, simply is out of fashion. And Verdi in addition has the disadvantage of being subtle about it most of the time, as compared to Wagner and Puccini who, by reaching into the gut, is able to overcome our slight uneasiness towards that kind of feelings.

I'm half joking here, but only half, and even though I listen very little to romantic opera. But you don't need a lot of musical insight to see that Verdi is a superb musical dramaticist, and I wouldn't exchange his Othello for quite a lot of Wagner.

[marvinbrown]

I recall James Levine in discussion with a  few NY Met oprera buffs at intermission on some opera, some second rate operra, anyway he said to the effect:
"ohh yeah baby, we are going to bring back the OLD glory to the NYM, we'll bring back Verdi and we won't give a  damn what anyone says"
His buddy said with a  chuckle " yeah those damn modernists, we RULE , our Levine has the baton of power, we rule baby"

I felt so disgusted at this lack of consideration of what the younger generation really wants to hear.
It never ceases to amaze and stupify me as to how verdi ever came to any popularity.
the only idea I can imagine is for the fact the italians had so few real composers of any significane, so to make them not too jealous of the other more creative europeans, the europeans gave 2 thumbs up to Verdi, to pacify the italians and so they would also feel like they are in the CM family too.
Other than Puccini, who else does the italians offer?
Out of italy, the only music i care to listen to is a  bit from Vivaldi, and one opera from Puccini, Turandot.

  Like I said, pity, pity that romantic operatic masterpeices such as Otello, Aida, Rigoletto, La Traviata and Falstaff are treated with such disrespect by the members of the GMG forum.

  marvin

[paulb]

Levine was griping at how the old standards, specifically Verdi, was not losing some ground in power, to the recent push by the modernist camp to re-adjust the spot light onto the modern materpieces. Levine said he would not stand for such audacity., "Verdi will live forever".
I had one Leontyne Price Verdi opera, Aida I think,.
Anyway its been too long and only heard parts.
gasp, not my cup of tea nor coffee.
I'm happy to play Puccini's Turandot as often ,as i do not listen to Verdi.
Tell you what I'll track down a  cheap used opera or 2 of Verdi. To be fair in the matter.

you guys want Verdi to live on another 100 yrs in old glory, if not forever.
Its not going to happen, things are in motion. You can't stop changes. Unless you want to get crushed. Levine's baton has no magical powers to dispel future dispositions in the CM community  that will of necessity  occur.

[marvinbrown]

I'm guessing one is Verdi but who is the other?

 What makes you so sure Guido that Verdi will "crumble" so easily in time?  

And with regards to Wagner, why don't you see for yourself how easy it is to get tickets for the Ring Cycle in Bayreuth!  After all according to those of you who attacked my suggestions for composers on Mt. Rushmore, a nobody such as Wagner should have great difficulty atrracting a crowd  .  

 marvin

 

[marvinbrown]

Levine was griping at how the old standards, specifically Verdi, was not losing some ground in power, to the recent push by the modernist camp to re-adjust the spot light onto the modern materpieces. Levine said he would not stand for such audacity., "Verdi will live forever".
I had one Leontyne Price Verdi opera, Aida I think,.
Anyway its been too long and only heard parts.
gasp, not my cup of tea nor coffee.
I'm happy to play Puccini's Turandot as often ,as i do not listen to Verdi.
Tell you what I'll track down a  cheap used opera or 2 of Verdi. To be fair in the matter.

you guys want Verdi to live on another 100 yrs in old glory, if not forever.
Its not going to happen, things are in motion. You can't stop changes. Unless you want to get crushed. Levine's baton has no magical powers to dispel future dispositions in the CM community  that will occur.

  Excuse me but Verdi doesn't need the MET nor Levine to ensure his survival- he's got the La Scala opera house, the Royal Opera house in London, the Opera house in Paris and countless others who know just how bankable he is.  Check your local listing I am sure there are a few Verdi operas playing near you!

  marvin

[paulb]

 What makes you so sure Guido that Verdi will "crumble" so easily in time?  

And with regards to Wagner, why don't you see for yourself how easy it is to get tickets for the Ring Cycle in Bayreuth!  After all according to those of you who attacked my suggestions for composers on Mt. Rushmore, a nobody such as Wagner should have great difficulty atrracting a crowd  .  

 marvin

 

Wagner's 3 great operas will live on, provided sufficient talents can be found to fill the shoes necessary to pull off a  successful Wagner masterpiece. Parsifal sounds to me as fresh and alive as the day it was scored.  Its a  Living opera.

[paulb]

  Excuse me but Verdi doesn't need the MET nor Levine to ensure his survival- he's got the La Scala opera house, the Royal Opera house in London, the Opera house in Paris and countless others who know just how bankable he is.  Check your local listing I am sure there are a few Verdi operas playing near you!

  marvin

Fact of the matter is, the opera houses have to perform Verdi. Think about it, there are really only, say 100 truly significant operas of value, Verdi has seemed to get his votes.
So obviously the opera houses will perform Verdi, its just a  matter of due coyrse.
But look at how many orch/concerto forms there are, K's.  many of the old standards /the romantics, will slowly fall by the way side over the course of the next 2 decades.
The 2 camps are slowing evolving away from each other.
You guys have the position of power, for now, later on you will be giving away free tickets in order to make the concert hall look full and lively.
Orch's do not like to play for a   half empty audience. especially when those in attendance look dreary and bored out their minds.
Its just a  matter of due course and time.

[Wanderer]

Richard Wagner, Ludwig van Beethoven, Giuseppe Verdi, W.A. Mozart   

Verdi certainly does not deserve being amidst such exalted company. Unless he's there polishing someone's shoes or something.

[Brian]

Frankly, I'd prefer the original artwork of Mother Nature to the ugly sculpted mugs of four dead old European white men.