Our first term with the two French maîtres and their contemporaries brought revelations, to me, at any rate: those which stand out especially, because I didn't really know either, are Chausson's exquisite incidental music for a puppet-theatre production of The Tempest - first ever use of the celesta - and the incredible subtleties of Debussy's piano Images, enriched especially by film of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli.
There will be less Debussy in this term's 10 Thursday afternoon classes, starting in two days' time, more Ravel, for the simple reason that Ravel lived longer, into the post-war era of Les Six and even that of early Messiaen. We start with Jeux, a score that still baffles me: is it as great and exploratory as so many people suggest? Then there will be the 'late' Debussy sonatas; at the 2024 Sheffield Chamber Music Festival I was amazed at several of the late specimens for wind by Saint-Saëns, which will also feature. Ravel then enters the jazz era, and the ferment of 1920s Paris, an amazing scene.
Here's the flyer - click to enlarge and contact me if you'd like to sign up. You can get the videos if you can't attend any or all of the classes. Don't forget it's not too late to sign for the Monday course on Wagner's Die Walküre, as I only started last week and yesterday was a Bank Holiday.
Dear Mr. Nice, my name is Andrea Fabi, I'm an Italian actor and I'm commenting in here cause I can't find a simplier way to get in contact with you. I've been reading some of your articles about Soviet music and, I quote you, "the parallels with what was happening in the West at that time as there are many overlaps between the Russian and Western avant-garde in the 1920s". I've been working in operas and theatre productions as a physical performer with William Kentridge for about 10 years now and I'm researching, both for work and personal pleasure, informations about this exact matter, "overlaps between the Russian and Western avant-garde in the 1920s". I was asked to work on a dance show's dramaturgy, focusing on those overlaps: reading around on the internet I found some of your articles and interview and they are beautifully written and well spoken. If you think I can write an email to you asking some questions, please tell me how to contact you or write to me at andreafabiq at hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteWith best regards,
Andrea
Thanks, Andrea (if I may). I'll email you.
ReplyDelete