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In Reply to: The Classical Revolution in China. The Hope of the Future? posted by BarneyT on April 4, 2007 at 10:09:46:
I read all of it, and I'll state up front that I believe it's a GOOD THING for Classical music. Now, the strange part. I think the Chinese kids all want to be the next Sarah Chang, Lang Lang, Yundi Li, Midori or whatever -- it's unclear, POTENTIALLY, that the music/art is the main driver. It may just be fame, opportunity and money, in which case it's just a phase or a passing trend. Now, I'll temper that by pointing out that I've recently purchased a few recordings of brand new Chinese Classical compositions that are, at a minimum, interesting music, and VERY stimulating as pure recorded sound. Whether they will appeal to Classical fans in either China or the rest of the world only time will tell.It all points to a glimmer of light, though, in an otherwise very dark situation...
Follow Ups:
I am excited about what has been happening in China. Incidentally, Sarah Chang is American born Korean, Midori is Japanese and yes, they are great young talents. The issue of star quality is akin to how young African Americans in the cities and are honing basketball skills to be like Kobe B.
By "darkness" I meant the relative decline in the popularity of Classical music recently outside of China (in most places...not all), along with decreased funding and education. China is countering that trend. I'm SO SORRY about the mix up on the specific nationalities of the musicians -- I knew about it, but I rushed to generalize in support of my main point (which I think is of some merit, although may not be the absolute final answer). I, too, am excited about the happenings in China, although I may question some of the motivation behind the push (stage Moms anyone?:-). Assuming your last point about city kids playing basketball is meant in earnest, I agree. Kids emulate their idols. My rushed facts notwithstanding, I think we are in agreement with regard to one possible motivation behind the movement.Personally, I'd rather just think that the range of expression, seriousness of purpose and outright technical and artistic challenge of Classical music is driving a national intellectual curiousity to seek higher forms of expression and enlightenment. But given the knuckle-dragging cultural values emerging outside of China, I almost feel like a reverse-racist suggesting that might be the case!!!!!:-)
"......But given the knuckle-dragging cultural values emerging outside of China, "LOL........SE, I feel your pain. I'm sitting back listening to Sviatoslav Richter performing Shostakovitch and wondering how many westerners have ever heard of Richter...Shostakovitch....Beethoven...or music of the western classical tradition....period! I even get depressed over at vinyl asylum. I was glad to see your name posted as soon as I came over. It's good to know the music of genius is still being listening to and discussed.........even in China.
Kept in SLEEVES no less. Ya know, 25 years ago I knew someone who did that, admired it, and then didn't do it myself. I entered into Classical (in a serious way), and now I own 6 (maybe 8) thousand CD's -- all WONDERFUL...all exactly what I wanted.........still. Great photo. I just saved it as a local wallpaper. I've got TONS of Richter. A man with an opinion. He's the same reason I like Aimard, Harnoncourt, Pletnev, Gergiev...Salonen and (for as long as we can get them) Boulez and Brendel. I'm NOT HAPPY with the state of things with the Classical genre. It's fallen prey to the media, and that's never good. The thinkers are dead. Long live the thinkers (hey, what else have we got........clark? Feh).
Pletnev's conducting is as dry and thin and unimaginative as his upper lip. Compare Pletnev to Mravinsky (sp) in Scriabin. I *think* Gergiev is a scam--an actual product of the media and swallowed whole by the weak-minded consumer, or uneasy Classical music loving males who perfer his mug on a CD cover rather than Walter, now Wendy Carlos' rather than Gergiev is a Sinopoli with a bad beard and half the imagination. How's that for an opinion?
"...or uneasy Classical music loving males who perfer his mug on a CD cover rather than Walter, now Wendy Carlos' rather than Gergiev is a Sinopoli with a bad beard and half the imagination. How's that for an opinion?"Should read:
"...or uneasy Classical music loving males who prefer his mug on a CD cover rather than Walter, now Wendy Carlos'. Gergiev is a Sinopoli with a bad beard and half the imagination. How's that for an opinion?
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