Essays on Opera – Egon Wellesz

Essays on Opera – Egon Wellesz

Essays on Opera – Egon Wellesz

‘I think it is a mistake to underrate the social strength of opera. Wherever operas are performed care must be taken that the performances do not take place in isolation from the life of the town, and that the whole complex, the opera house as an institution, the works performed, and the artists who perform them, should not be regarded as an occasional luxury. Given this, only a few years are needed for opera to become an essential part of a town’s, or even of a nation’s, artistic life, and this is doubly true to-day when the wireless provides a means of enormously increasing the sphere of influence.’

This quote from the book is very admirable and a lot of why Germany still has so many opera houses in comparison to other parts of the world. Seems the argument of Opera being able to survive has been around for a while – ‘wireless provides a means…’ – it’s really been around for longer than that and I refer to another quote to give a better answer for the future than I can:

‘Now, I should like to try to give some kind of answer to the question which must have occurred to many. Opera has been a living thing in the past and is living to-day, but has it really a future? In spite of the activity of composers and the efforts of theatre managers are we not at the end of a development? If I have been able to express what I wanted to express you will know that I believe. Opera, I think, is not in its nature a narrow and limited field. A glance at its history shows that it’s whole nature and form is, and always has been, extremely flexible. Whenever in the past external or internal circumstances have brought it to the end of a particular line of development, a path has always been found which has led to a new flowering. Even in its most modern developments the path of opera has branched in several directions, some of which may well prove blind alleys, but one of which may become the high road of the future. Another point which I hope I have made clear is that opera cannot play the role of a casual visitor in the life of a nation. Wherever opera has flourished, it has been accepted as an important factor in the nation’s spiritual life. Every effort has been made to give it a permanent place among the activities of the human spirit which are the justification of our civilization. Another thing I hope to have made clear is that the action on the stage in an opera must be intelligible to the public, or the music will fail to hold their interest. Opera in England, therefore, must be sung in English. Only then will it be possible for the whole audience to be united in the action, and to experience, as in the theatre, the emotions of the drama. But opera as an institution cannot hope to arouse real interest unless it is concerned with the works of living men. In every place where opera was and is an essential element of the spiritual atmosphere, there is a line of connection between the past and the present. But it is the present which fulfils the promise of the past and in the works of the present resides the vitality of opera.’

So there is always hope for the future, as long as there are people willing to work on it. I enjoyed reading this book and it gave me some nice new insights into the history of opera and anyone wanting to see a different perspective would do well to read this book. I would add that the last 2 chapters on his own works, didn’t interest me much and not sure they really added much to this collection.

To round off with a lovely quote on composition ideals:

‘A comparison with painting will make this clear. Poussin, speaking of the artist’s task, says that in the first place it depends on the choice of a fitting subject, in the second on the composition, in the third on the way in which the material is treated, and last of all on the colours. The same order holds for opera, but it often seems as if composers relied above all on the colours, the scoring, as if they made no fundamental distinction between the treatment of a serious and a comic subject, as if the principles of structure were almost unknown to them, and they were mainly concerned with the choice of the most effective rather than the most suitable subject.’

State Secrets: The Kent-Wolkoff Affair – Bryan Clough

State Secrets: The Kent-Wolkoff Affair – Bryan Clough

State Secrets: The Kent-Wolkoff Affair by Brian Clough

This is a book which I bought straight from the author, as the signature inside attests to, just sad it’s taken me so long to read it, but glad I did. Its theme centres on whether or not Roosevelt and Churchill had been conspiring to get the USA involved in WW II, long before the time it did, specifically in regards to the Kent-Wolkoff case and why these 2 people may have been put in prison and the way it was done.

This has been a theme I grew up with and this book gives, what to me, is a well defended and researched argument, unlike many others which Clough names and shames in his arguments. I don’t want to tell you the outcome, so will say no more in regards to plot line, as that maybe giving too much away.

Suffice it to say, it’s a good read and, especially, as this is a theme which is quite popular at the moment, with the recently released movie – Enigma. So if you are up for reading about double agents, spies and powerful leaders’ secret correspondence, this book is the read for you!

Singers of the Century – J.B. Steane

Singers of the Century – J.B. Steane

Singers of the Century

‘It makes one resolve when thinking of the singer, to spare some thought also for the human being.’ – I loved this quote from the book, if really shows J.B. Steane’s devotion to the singers he likes. For me, this book was not so well put together, mainly, in my mind, due to how short the biographies had to be to fit in 50 of them.  At times, they seem to lead down blind allies of non-comprehension.

Over all I liked reading about all these great singers, but the cohesion just wasn’t there, but it was refreshing to see there are all types at the top and they are all very much ‘human beings’.

Simon Rattle – The Making of a Conductor – by Nicholas Kenyon

Simon Rattle – The Making of a Conductor – by Nicholas Kenyon

Simon Rattle – The Making of a Conductor by Nicholas Kenyon

I wish I could say I had a master plan in the order of the books I’ve been reading, but I haven’t, and yet, there seems to be a distinct pattern forward. This book ends at 1987 and while some of the books I’ve read have gone beyond the timing, there is still a movement forward – a way forward. As I’ve read time and time again, in this series of books, the classical music industry is struggling and it has big competition – sports, TV, Film, Gaming, Internet, etc. Who wants to go to an art form, which quite frankly, just seems to constantly stare at its own belly button.

So what has this to do with this book, well, I feel, Simon Rattle has helped in his small way and in this period of time in his life, as I believe things are quite different for him now, that he helped to shack up those belly button starer to start to see what is really going on and how it can be done differently. I am not saying that everything he did at this time is right and accurate and all musicians can do the same, but there is a sense of finding the confidence and strength to work at it, believe in your instincts and judgements – where they work or not.

I enjoyed it, which surprised me, as I knew very little about this man before reading this book, but it’s quite something to read how the pegs all fell into place and he had the courage to stick to what he believed. Unlike the author, I do feel he was lucky too! I am a firm believer that luck or destiny is involved when people, so called, make it and there was a lot of that in this story of Simon Rattle – why not, I believe in the saying ‘we make our own luck’ and I believe we are all lucky in our own ways.

I wanted to find out where Simon Rattle is now, not surprising he went to Germany and has worked there for a long time. Soon, he will move on again, maybe retirement, because he can afford to sit back and enjoy it or maybe, it’ll be America and LA at long last. I don’t feel London will ever hold for him what makes him tick – that city is still a bit too much about the belly button staring. A quote from Simon in the book about this:

Interviewer: “What about the problems like whether to follow the metronome marks?”

Simon: “These things are all just dogmas: the dogma of following the metronome marks, the dogma of the squeezed note, the dogma of borrowing this way or that. They’re too rigid, and if you think those things will provide you with answers about how to do the piece, you’re wrong. But I think if you rehearse a very small part of the piece, as you saw us doing in those early sectionals, and insist on certain things, a certain approach to phrasing and so on, then with intelligent musicians it will spread over the whole piece. So without sounding pretentious the thing is to get a microcosmic approach to detail which actually creates a macro-cosmic approach to the while symphony.

You need gradually to build it up: like running – I used to run, believe it or not – you don’t go first for the full distance, unless you’re an idiot; you build up gradually. That’s what I hate about an orchestra where you’re given an overall view to start with. You can’t unpick it. And in London you rarely have time to unpick it anyway. I believe in building up from the very smallest bricks and making performances like that, and the nearer we get to the performance the more I want to be performing.
I find I am not good at letting things go. I mean, God, as an English conductor you really ought to be, because that’s what you expect from the players: leave it to us, and it will be fine. With the London orchestras you can get a solid level of performance, but it’s so predictable. I find that unless I’ve built it up gradually, and have a certain amount of structural order, then I don’t have enough rigour to give me the freedom I need.”

Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky – Anthony Holden

Tchaikovsky – Anthony Holden

This is my second composer biography which I’ve read now on this trip and this one is, by far, a much better composed book. It is very readable and really does keep you wanting to read more and more about this fascinatingly, sad story. I didn’t know much about Tchaikovsky’s life, but have been a big admirer of his compositions. He was such an incredibly talented man, but with a very sad ending to his life, he struggled with his sexuality and, it may seem, as presented in this book, died for it. I am so grateful to live today and in the Western world, where we are a much more tolerant and accepting society.

A very good read, even for those who have yet to be introduced to his music – really enjoyed it!

Donizetti and the World of Opera

Donizetti and the World of Opera in Italy, Paris and Vienna in the first half of the nineteenth century

Donizetti and the World of Opera in Italy, Paris and Vienna in the first half of the nineteenth century

Well, this isn’t the biggest page turner, it has taken me some time to read through it.  It goes into detail, but mainly comparing and updating against things that have been said about Donizetti in previous biographies about him.  I suppose there is not doubt that there has been a huge amount of effort to be as accurate as possible about his life.

I am glad I read it, as it has told me a lot about his life – born poor – died wealthy.  This isn’t often achieved, but Donizetti did really well and got to enjoy it.  His life was not without problems, but he died with his family around him, but childless.

At the end of the book there is a large listing of details of paperwork, music written and other significant info about his life.

I never knew that Donizetti wrote very quickly and, pretty much, to order.  He had an incredible talent and he was lucky enough to find the right people to help him develop his talents.

Country Extra Magazine

Country Extra – Magazine (March 2008)

Country Extra Magazine

‘For those who live in or long for the country’

As we have a fuzzy companion on our travels – Mickey – my parents’ cat, we needed to take him into the vet for his annual shots. (Just a foot note to my Canadian friends who live on the border, it’s much cheaper to take your pet to the US vet, than it is to a Canadian. – for one shot cost in Canada, we got all his shots!)

Anyway, as a result, my Dad picked up this cute little magazine for me to look at a photo, so, as my motto on this trip is to read whatever comes my way, I read this magazine. It’s quite sweet and harkens onto a slower and quieter lifestyle, which, is nice just to read about, even if I don’t live it. The stories are very engaging and based on peoples real experiences. The best story, in this edition, is ‘Paid with a Piglet’ about a boy buying his first pig, doesn’t sound like much, but it will bring a lump to your throat (page 20.)

Also, there is a contest in the edition I happened to get, which is over 6 years old, where you are able to find 2 needles in the magazine, I figure I found them, but I can tell you, it’s like trying to find them in a haystack, they hide them so well! I may never find out if I got the right places for the needles (in the fish on page 58, if anyone ever reads the April 2008 issue, please let me know if I got it right?!) It was fun trying to find them with my Dad and sharing some of the stories in the magazine, plus the brilliant photos, as first when I opened it, I thought it was all photos, there are so many! There’s one photo of, what I can only describe as, the most beautiful cow I have ever seen (page 31).

Nice thing about a magazine like this, it doesn’t matter if it’s such a back issue, it’s still fun to read.

PS: Mickey was fine after his day of shot recovery, only to go out again and get a tick and have to go to the vet again in the same week – the vet didn’t charge to take the tick out and explained in future how we can do it ourselves!

Gypsy Journal: the RV Travel Newspaper

Gypsy Journal; the RV Travel Newspaper

Gypsy Journal

Given my current lifestyle of travel (in a RV) and the fact that I’m blogging about my travels (), I thought it would be good to read a little about this current travel we are doing. My parents picked this paper up at one of the campgrounds and I was, surprisingly, very interested in what it had to say and how useful it was.

It gives all sorts of useful tips or how to find support while on the road. It’s a real treasure trove of info and if it’s not in that issue, it will likely be in a back issue or the blog or one of the other useful guides they produce. They offer places to go for ‘newbies’ on the road, so as to help them drive, pick out the right RV and use it!

There are, also, articles on places which Nick and Terry Russell have traveled, which are great for finding those little out of the way places.

I would highly recommend this newspaper for newbies and long-termers, as there are useful and interesting stories in the paper for a wide range of RV traveler.

The Amber Spy Glass – by Philip Pullman

The Amber Spy Glass – by Philip Pullman

The Amber Spy Glass

Part of the ‘Dark Materials Trilogy’

Well, I’ve made it to the end of this trilogy and have enjoyed reading the 3 books, despite what I think are some huge flaws in the story line. What I would say, overall about Philip Pullman’s writing which is why it makes it so easy to overlook all the inconsistencies in the plot and some of the little too loose jumps of imaginative ‘filling in of the blanks’ is that he writes wonderful characters which you want to know what is going to happen to them. I felt very drawn into them and the emotional roller-coaster is very well present and engaging, which is why I kept reading through them – well worth a read for those long winter nights!

The Subtle Knife – Philp Pullman

The Subtle Knife – by Philip Pullman

Part of the ‘Dark Materials Trilogy’

The Subtle Knife, – Philip Pullman

I have to be honest, that I am really enjoying this series, despite any criticisms I have of it. This book mainly focuses around a boy and the lovely heroine we met in the first book takes a very big back seat to the boy. I don’t like the boy as much as the girl, but then, he is a less likeable character. Also, I found the opening facts that the heroine wasn’t able to cook or clean for herself really off putting, as in the first book, she was taught these things by the gypsy’s, so not sure why Pullman has made her such a weak character in this book, after, having such a strong one started in the first.

Overall, I don’t like this book as much as the first, but I was pleased to see that he filled in some gaps that were sorely missing in the first, so it seems there was some progress since my reading of the first book to clarify some big holes. Seems that Mr Pullman assumes we will read all three books, which I don’t mind, as it means, that he doesn’t go over the past details of previous books too much – I really appreciate it, as, often with series books, they go over so much of what you have already read. He gives just enough to keep you in mind of what happened in the previous book.

Still reading on, but with less relish, as I did with the first book.