Friday, May 15, 2009
Classical Brits...
Everyone has been reporting on the Classical Brits, but I was at home, coughing, so I refer you to Opera Chic, who has some cool pics of JONAS KAUFMANN (I really AM jealous) as well as Katherine Jenkins holding a fan (no, not that kind of fan - the fluttery, Carmeny kind), Lang Lang with Herbie Hancock (or Herbie Hancock with Lang Lang, depending), Darcy Bussell with KJ (ditto - Darcy is the willowy one) and more, her award for Best Hair going to...Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Hmm.
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If you'll permit me, Jessica, I'd like to use this opportunity to clarify why I think the Classical Brit Awards - with its emphasis on crossover and only a concession to serious classical music artists - is a damaging influence on the classical music industry.
Let me start by saying I don't object to crossover. It's pleasant enough, millions enjoy it - and a few record execs do very well on the profits. But for the most part, it's not classical music: it’s the junk food equivalent. Here's an illustration.
I buy a CD of excerpts from popular classical music works - stuff from the Romantic and Classical periods, and maybe a bit from the early Modern period, too. I like it, and it makes me keen to explore further. This leads to fresh discoveries and an eventual engagement with serious classical music.
But let's say I buy Blake's new CD, or the one by Katherine Jenkins. Will this introduce me to 'real' classical music? There's a possibility, of course - but the 'nutritional value' of these releases is necessarily lower than that of a sampler CD of genuine classical music.
This culture of marketing as 'classical' pop and easy listening ballads sung in front of an orchestra is an insult to the many dedicated performers, musicologists, promoters and listeners who know that if people were exposed to 'real' classical music, they might just like it.
If people want crossover, market it as that and let's be done with it. But don't dress it up as something it's not ... then hand out meaningless awards to reinforce the lie.
This isn't helping classical music. It's watering it down.
FK
FK, I couldn't agree more. Katherine Jenkins, Faryl thing etc are NOT classical musicians, end of story. They are pretty girls with nice voices and belong on Radio 2.
But buried deep among the ++++ were some real artists, notably Mackerras and Kaufmann... I agree that they should not need to get their attention on the backs of Jenkins et al (so to speak - don't misread that, please...) - but maybe in this stupid world they do.
I totally agree... putting these names under one roof is ... well, inappropriate. And I am so with you Jessica on that particular envy… sigh! Don’t you hate it when work interferes with pleasure? ;-)
I like Katherine Jenkins some songs!
You didn't have to dig deep to find the real musicians at the RPS Music Awards on Tuesday: - Thomas Quasthoff, Janine Jansen, Richard Hickox, Harrison Birtwistle - now that's class.
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