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[Fortinbras Armstrong]

58. Britten is just not to my taste

Last edited Fri Apr 19, 2013, 10:19 AM - Edit history (1)

Actually, my real hatred is directed to the Second Vienna School. On Schoenberg's 100th birthday, one of the local classical radio stations played a great deal of his music. I particularly recall Perriot Lunaire, which comes close to being my all time least favorite piece, especially the section "Der kranke Mond". I thought that if Schoenberg is trying to enduce feelings of mild nausea in the listener, he is succeeding brilliantly.

The host of the program remarked that "Schoenberg has always been highly regarded among the musical cognoscenti, but has never achieved any sort of popular following" with an unspoken, but obvious, "and I've always wondered why." Well, I could have told him exactly why. The music was butt-ugly. During one piece (I forget which one) of serial music, I suddenly thought "He must have made a mistake, I could almost detect a tune there for a few moments."

I once was roped into seeing Wozzeck, and I walked out during the intermission. I had to make my own way home, but it was a cheap price to pay to avoid the rest of that horrible opera. If anyone tells me it is a great opera and they love it, I shall say that some people love sadomaschoism, a love which is far more understandable. I have also avoided Lulu, which I am told by Alban Berg fans is not as good as Wozzeck.