Classical Music in America: A History of Its Rise and Fall, by Joseph Horowitz (HC, 607 pages, 2005, $4.25)
Horowitz, according to the dust jacket, thinks 19th century Americans aspired to produce major non-European composers, while the symphonies in Boston, NY and Philadelphia raced each other to be the best. All that was needed was for American composers to stretch to be just a little better. Instead, "20th- century advocates of American music like Copland and Gershwin, Varese and Bernstein fitfully challenged a classical music culture dominated by glamorous conductors (above all, Arturo Toscanini) and galvanizing virtuosos (chiefly Jascha Heifetz and Vladimir Horowitz), while the American composer languished offstage."
Huh? All I know is that I love the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. For you who follow these blogs, you know I just woke up to the fact that the RPO exists. (Thanks, Eric, for the introduction.) So I will give my opinion on Horowitz's theory- Humbug! But if you still want to read his book, look on the new non-fiction table. (event- mus)
I am worried about another issue. At the RPO last night the guest performers commented that two of the orchestras they were contracted to play at no longer existed. So here is my plug for the RPO- support it or it might be gone too!
Rochester Philharmonic- THANK YOU !!!!!!
People of the RPO, both those of you in front of the curtain, and those behind the scenes- You are doing an awesome job, and I want you to know it!
