Has education expanded your listening tastes?
Rok2id, So true, and that crossed my mind when I ever so carefully chose to limit my comments to "charisma." As for your recent LvB trios, that sounds like a winner of a combo. I've had the pleasure of hearing Lynn Harrell live twice. Best Dvorak concerto I ever heard, and I've heard a number of the big names including Ma. |
Every time one picks up a copy of a classical music magazine and looks at the industry ads for new releases, you cannot help but notice how soloists have to have both talent and physical charms in today's competitive market. It's not just female performers who are subject to rising standards for appearance, male performer's appearance standards are also affected. Conductors don't seem to be so critically judged on appearance, but it doesn't hurt your career to look like Hogwood or Karajan. I suppose the growing pressure on classical artists to be hyper-attractive is an inevitable consequence to living in such image conscious times (as well as a diminishing market for classical music.) |
****I suppose the growing pressure on classical artists to be hyper-attractive is an inevitable consequence to living in such image conscious times**** Concertmasters, like conductors, are not under this growing pressure. Obviously, the astute listener can see (hear) through any possible veneer, but this is something to keep in mind when assessing the relative musical abilities of a great concert master vs that of some of the high profile soloists. The great concertmasters are amazing musicians. Some interesting reading on the subject: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100103/ARTICLE/1031012 http://www.scena.org/lsm/sm4-8/concertmaster.htm |
