13.1.05

All-_________

The Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra comes to town for a concert Sunday evening, and your humble correspondent will be reviewing the performance. The program is an all-Tchaikovsky evening: Capriccio Italien, the Violin Concerto, and the Fifth Symphony. This concert is being seen as the biggest musical event to hit town since Jim Morrison's arrest.

I'm not a big fan of Tchaikovsky, but I like him more than I used to (Bill Hibbard said to me "If you don't like Tchaikovsky, you are a snob"). I'm also not a big fan of one composer/one medium concerts, though there are exceptions--I heard the Guarneri Quartet traverse the Bartok Quartets over two evenings in Iowa City in 1981, for one glorious example.

At any rate, I have a few questions: Should I mention these reservations in my review? How do you all feel about Tchaikovsky? About one composer/one medium concerts?

10 comments:

  1. If it is a review, rather than a critique, I wouldn't mention the biases. Tell your readers what you have heard.

    I like the T-man.

    I don't mind one/one concerts. I know what I'm getting into beforehand, and either I like that composer or medium enough to spend money and time, or I don't, and leave the seat for another fan.

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  2. Your Tchaikovskyphobia is a personal taste, so be careful how you mention it in your review. But more than one person has noticed he gets a bit sticky at times. Three cinnamon rolls are not a well-balanced meal.

    Which brings me to your next question. One composer concerts are usually a mistake. The conductor must know that, and must have a reason why he thinks he can make an exception. It seems to me that trying to understand the conductor's thinking is all part of your job as a reviewer.

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  3. Thanks. Those are both very helpful comments.

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  4. Why are one composer concerts a mistake? Most recordings are one composer. Operas are one composer.

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  6. EDITED for typo.

    I wouldn't call an all-_____________ concert a "mistake"; it's just not my preference. I think they are different from recordings (where you aren't expected to necessarily listen to the whole thing at one sitting) or an opera (which is just one piece, as is a Mahler symphony, which I expected as a counter-example).

    I'm not likely to hear the Moscow Phil again, and I would like to have heard more of their range. Their publicity material says they play a good bit of American music, which is intriquing to me.

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  7. I think the all-_____ concerts are a sign of box office insecurity. The venues are businesses and there is a certain amount of guaranteed ticket sales when the composer or medium (and traveling orchestra) is/are a very known entity.

    Personally, I tend to think "it's all good" when it comes to live professional performances. But then I'm only a casual listener, not a critic.

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  8. More good comments. Thanks.

    I guess there aren't many people who are lukewarm to Tchaikovsky--most of us either really like him or really dislike him. I used to be in the intense dislike camp, but have moved to the middle. Maybe this concert will effect that.

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  9. Go ahead and mention your reservations, both about the composer and the programming. Readers of the review can calibrate somewhat based on your mentioning those things. I myself have both complained about programming I regard as poorly-conceived and complimented programming I thought especially good.

    I'm fine with all________ concerts if they're interesting!

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  10. I agree that an important part of my job as a local newspaper critic is to probe the programming itself. I think that applies more to ongoing concerns, such as the local orchestra and university, than to one-off concerts like the Moscow band. On the other hand, a comment about how I would like to have heard some of the groups other strengths would not be out-of-place, either.

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