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'Gay 12-Tone Cowboys' - Composer Charles Wuorinen Plans Opera Version

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Scott6373:

--- Quote from: moremojo on September 28, 2007, 12:16:27 pm ---I think Barber is an excellent choice, and I agree with you about the importance of the story/theme being conveyed through music rather than the music merely acting as support for the lyrics. I think this may account for why so many recent operas (they keep churning them out, probably more often than new stage musicals are birthed) do not penetrate into the permanent repertoire.

I think Bernstein would also have been able to invest the work with a strong, resonating flavor. And what do you think of Michael Tippett? I think he was sufficiently variable and eclectic to approach the story from any number of musical angles.

--- End quote ---

Bernstien would have suffered the same as Copland...meaning he would probably fall into idiomatic expression.  Michael Tippet is to restrained emotionally as a composer.  Like I said, it would require a very special talent to do this right.  Ah yes...that's the name that kept eluding me.  There is one living composer...Ned Rorem.

moremojo:
Isn't it interesting how every single composer we've named here (with the possible exception of Wuorinen, about whom I am ignorant) has been gay? It's really fascinating to reflect on how many of the stellar names in twentieth-century classical music have been gay/bi men.

And along those lines, I'm having a lot of fun imagining Francis Poulenc having a go at Annie's story.

Scott6373:

--- Quote from: moremojo on September 28, 2007, 01:12:18 pm ---Isn't it interesting how every single composer we've named here (with the possible exception of Wuorinen, about whom I am ignorant) has been gay? It's really fascinating to reflect on how many of the stellar names in twentieth-century classical music have been gay/bi men.

And along those lines, I'm having a lot of fun imagining Francis Poulenc having a go at Annie's story.

--- End quote ---

How ignorant of me to limit my thoughts to "American" composers, though, I do have my doubts that a Euopean composer could understand some of the idiomatic musical expression.  Poulenc huh?  I have to think about that one.

moremojo:
I had the thought last night of how sad it was that Heath will never (or may never) know how this opera turned out. Silly, perhaps, but that's what I thought.

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