F.R.E.D went through some tough times. Of course, the entire country went through (is going through?) tough times, so this is not news. But we weathered the storm and we're still here. (I'm Still Here was already taken.)
So...first highly opinionated post of the year. 2010 saw the loss of many great classical artists and all were duly eulogized (some more than others.) Which brings me to:
Joan Sutherland died. Perhaps the greatest technique of any singer in her lifetime (I'd go back father, but then we'd have to explain and get sidetracked.) Very few people would disagree. (And they would be idiots, if they did.) Her recordings are marvels of control, color, phrasing, security, and dependability. What they rarely had were multifaceted characters, true excitement, insight, or genuine surprise. You know what you get and you love it or you don't. Good for her.
Charles Mackerras also died. One of the greatest conductors of his lifetime. He tried many different ideas, championed great composers, championed great singers, believed in studying original manuscripts to garner ideas, played the Classical composers with smaller numbers, fleeter tempos, appoggiaturas in the historically correct places with Mozart as well as Donizetti and the other Italian Romantics, fostered music sung in native language of the people when possible, built up performing groups like The Welsh National Opera, etc, etc, etc. Classical music is different because he lived. If for no other reason than because of him, Janacek has been added to the repertoire of most opera houses--right where he belongs--and seems to be popular, even loved (what's not to love?)
My gripe? Sutherland had pages and pages of meaningless drivel in her obituary in The New York Times. Mackerras had one page. Read it again. The New York Times, the internationally known paper for one of the great centers for classical music, gave Charles Mackerras one page. One. Granted he was British, yet he performed often in America and recorded many American singers--including Beverly Sills. If fact, he conducted thousands of performances around the world. Sutherland is also NOT from America. And she sang thousands of performances around the world. He changed music as we hear it, even WHAT we hear. She made recordings. I'm just saying.
Alas, conductors will never be as popular (Bernstein and Toscanini the exceptions, perhaps) as singers. This is the TRUE story of classical music. The vast majority of listeners have no idea how important a conductor is. They only know singers. Or violinists (for a short time, anyway.) Or pianists (also mostly fleeting love affairs.) Often by how young they are and what they wear. Lang Lang? An over-emotive (at least, in physical action), musical mediocrity if ever there was one, but he has (the same) following so he gets gigs. But for how long?
Do I think singers should not be revered? Of course not! I am a singer myself, and I treasure the performances I have seen at the Met (and other places) by singing actors of every stripe, in every dramatic musical form. Yes, even Broadway singers can be riveting and well-trained. With a slightly different projection style, Christine Ebersole could sing opera. A Light In The Piazza, with Victoria Clark and Kelli O'Hara practically WAS opera. Audra McDonald sang "Summertime" and "My Man's Gone Now" better than most of the people I have heard sing them. And Bernadette Peters, (nothing even remotely like an opera singer) in A Little Night Music was one of the unmissable performances of my lifetime for anyone who loves good singing actors. If you didn't go, why didn't you? Will many people argue the merits of, say, country music over jazz or Broadway or opera? Yes. Will (fewer, alas!) people argue the merits of, say, Renee Fleming over Deborah Voigt? Yes. Will they argue the merits of Charles Mackerras over Kurt Masur? Very few. By the way: jazz and opera and Broadway over country, but some country singers can actually sing very well. Renee Fleming...anyone who chooses Voigt? Who are you kidding? And, as expected, because I set it up this way, the late lamented Charles Mackerras, a kind man I met for five minutes in person and many hours on record and in the house. The King is dead. Long live the King. Sutherland probably won't need my help.
