Alec Baldwin Gives $1 Million to New York Philharmonic

[stopbush]

July 2, 2012, 1:38 PM
Alec Baldwin Gives $1 Million to New York Philharmonic
By DAVE ITZKOFF


It is more generally the custom for a new bride and groom to get presents rather than to give them. But two days after Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Thomas were married at a star-studded and music-filled wedding in Manhattan, the New York Philharmonic said on Monday that it had received a gift of $1 million from Mr. Baldwin to honor Zarin Mehta, its outgoing president and executive director.

Mr. Baldwin, the actor and “30 Rock” star, is a member of the Philharmonic’s board and the host of its radio show, “The New York Philharmonic This Week”; he is also an enthusiastic advocate for that orchestra, which he has plugged in the occasional Capital One credit card commercial.

The Philharmonic said the gift from Mr. Baldwin was a donation of his proceeds from his Capital One campaign. Mr. Baldwin said in a statement: “I have loved classical music all of my life, but Zarin Mehta made my dream of becoming part of the world of classical music come true. I will miss working with him directly, but will always bear in mind his passion, commitment, and insight as I continue my work with the New York Philharmonic. Zarin has my best wishes for the future, and I look forward to continuing our rich, musical friendship.”

Mr. Mehta, who will conclude his tenure at the end of the Philharmonic’s 2011-12 season, said in a statement that Mr. Baldwin’s gift “humbles me and inspires me to continue to contribute to the art form in any way I can.”


http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/02/alec-baldwin-gives-1-million-to-new-york-philharmonic/

[longship]

1. One of my friends is first chair cello at the NY Phil

It's a wonderful band. For those who think music is only loud guitars, bass, and drums, you don't know what the fuck music is about.

Try some Bach, Mozart, or Bartok (take your dissonances like a man) for a change. Rock makes me sick. It's rubbish.

[senseandsensibility]

2. Okay...with you on the love of classical music

but all rock is not rubbish.

[longship]

5. Well, it's all a matter of taste.

The rock meme that all music can only be loud electric guitars, electric basses, and very loud drums is utter rubbish. There is no there there. It is mere fucking noise. There is no dynamics, only let's blow out everybody's ear drums.

How can anybody call that music. I would rather call it mucus as both are equally unpleasant. You may worship Iron Butterfly, but I see them for what they are, a lot of horrible noise. And Rap? I don't enjoy people who only yell at you.

Pop music has no subtlety. It's screaming rubbish. If you want a political statement, listen/watch Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. Or Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem, a secular work (Brahms was an atheist). Almost anything by Bach. Or, if you like Frodo Baggins, Harry Potter, or Lisabeth Salander, you may like Wagner's Ring Cycle, fifteen hours of operatic hack and slash (with suitable interludes of raw sex and intrigue).

Plus, one of my favorites, Tosca, an opera that is so simple that you know when it ends because the last major character dies. Remarkably, it is based on fact. Puccini rules!

That's why I hate pop, rock, and all that rubbish. There's nothing unsubtle about singing in thirds and fifths, all within one octave, like Neil Neil Diamond Diamond, or like Neil Young.

Duke Ellington said, if the music sounds good, it is good.

Mark Twain said, Wagner's music isn't as good as it sounds.

I guess this diatribe on musical taste proves only one thing. Our tastes are in our mouths.

You like Iron Butterfly? That's okay with me. Just don't tell me that all music needs loud guitars and drums and somebody screaming at me out of key, or in no key.

That ain't music. It's just noise. IMHO.

There is rock I like, just not much of it.

[senseandsensibility]

7. What rock do you like?

I like the most "primitive" rock available, which is basically black rhythm and blues. But I tend to like very basic things, and most primitive cultures have very basic music. I like all of it, and none of it requires electricity. At the same time, I don't hate electric guitar, for example. It all depends on how it is done.

[longship]

12. I can't really characterize it.

If I hear something I like, I usually don't know enough to even know who is playing it. For instance, I generally like Paul Simon; I generally dislike Neil Young.

Rock just doesn't do much for me anymore. I rarely deliberately listen to it. I don't get rap at all. It just all sounds alike after a while.

[etherealtruth]

4. You do realize you sound like the very people you are "dissing"

Supporting the New York Philharmonic is a wonderful thing ... as is supporting any of the arts.

It is too bad your music appreciation is so limited; you are missing a great deal.

[Laochtine]

9. Get of my lawn

Damn kids playing with the electric musical instruments and such.
lol McCain would be proud of your tolerance.

[longship]

11. Tolerance? I have no problem that rock exists.

I just don't listen to it very much because it's not my preference. I don't like it at all.

If you like it, good for you.

[LeftyMom]

10. At least it's not supported by rich people trying to dodge their taxes.

If I ever found that I had tastes in common with stuck up assholes in fur coats, I'd seriously question my fucking priorities.

[xchrom]

3. ...

[Honeycombe8]

6. I wouldn't have pegged him for a classical music guy. But that's great he has appreciation

for the finer things.

[undeterred]

8. Nice to see Mr Baldwn happy and behaving himself.

He's funny and smart, as well as being on the left.