An article on the season-opener of the National Symphony Orchestra.
Interesting here, the comments ... one of which calls Anne Midgette out on writing 'a completely worthless, snarky article'.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/nso-opens-with-pretty-sounds-fancy-dresses-striking-decor/2012/10/01/49366a3a-0c0a-11e2-bb5e-492c0d30bff6_story.html
What a snarkfest, indeed. What exactly was she intending to review - the music or the state of the NSO or its conductor or its organ or its crappy video or ... and only backhanded compliments when she has anything musically valid to say at all. Who is this shrew? Maybe Ms. Midgette should go write for the society page instead.
ReplyDeleteAnne Midgette and her husband Greg Sandow are both thoughtful critics whose writing I value. (I know from being a longtime reader of Greg Sandow that he is, first and foremost, concerned with the future of classical music and how we keep it going.) I don't really see much wrong with this, and it all seems valid to me -- even her slightly cynical tone. Who in the orchestral world isn't cynical right now? It's certainly appropriate to contrast such an event with the devastating cuts, mismanagement and mistreatment of musicians in orchestras across the country.
ReplyDeleteI take your point, Kathleen ... and on the strength of your comment, I went back to re-read her review. Her language has a "Masked Ball During the Plague" archness ... which could only be deliberate. You are right, there's nothing wrong with this ... but perhaps those who commented were looking for more of a 'straight' concert review, and found Midgette's cynical tone -- which spread to the green dress Anne Sophie Mutter wore -- out of place.
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