Elliott Carter's death at 103 a reminder of brilliant music Baltimore has been missing
If great artists are appreciated more after they're gone, perhaps brilliant composer Elliott Carter will soon get the wider recognition he deserves.
He died Monday in New York at the age of 103, leaving behind one of the most challenging -- and rewarding -- bodies of musical work of the past century.
In his home city, and a few other major arts capitals, Carter has long been honored for his keen intellect and ability to fashion scores of rich structural cohesion and absorbing inner detail. In places like Baltimore, not so much.
Carter's complexities scare too many audiences (and a lot of musicians, I imagine). It's so much easier on everybody -- especially box offices and public relations departments -- if he is kept off of programs.
At Peabody Conservatory, UMBC or a few other adventurous spots around this area, Carter does get occasional attention, I hasten to add. But at, say, the Baltimore Symphony? LOL.
I already got on my high horse about all of this a few years ago, so, instead of repeating myself, here's my 2009 post, complete with video clips, about the music we have been missing here.
DAVID HOLLOWAY/GETTY IMAGES
Comments
Mr. Catter's music suffers the same neglect in Philadelphia. Our home team played A Symphony of Three Orcestras in 1984 and there has been nothing since. I do not expect improvment under Yannick
Posted by: Joe | November 6, 2012 12:34 PM
Hello Tim,
An die Musik Live is presenting a concert featuring Elliott Carter's piano works by Peabody alum Matthew Odell on Sunday Feb 10 2013 at 4 pm.
The program will feature:
Carter: Sonata, Caténaires, Retrouvailles, Two Diversions, 90+
Barber: Sonata
This tribute to the 103-year-old Carter has long been in the works. I am looking forward to sharing a diverse cross-section of his repertoire, specifically contrasting his Sonata with that of Samuel Barber. Both sonatas were written in the years immediately following WWII, and for all their differences, they share some interesting similarities that I am eager to explore. ~ Matthew Odell
http://www.andiemusiklive.com/EvntDtl1.cfm?&E1CNTR=5766&YR=2013&MN=2&DY=10&T=210618
Great news.TIM
Posted by: Henry | November 6, 2012 10:16 PM