The other night we attended a concert given by two very well-known pianists, who played an unfinished piece by Mozart (fine), but, in addition two works by Stravinsky and Debussy, both relatively unknown and astonishing for their lack of imagination or a glimmer of melody,just endless loud noise. I put my earplugs in. We left at half time.
The above is, of course, a totally subjective comment. The Washington Post critic, Anne Midgette, ever a supporter of everything I personally consider unmusical music, absolutely glowed about the performance.
I mention this to point up something that seems to have taken hold in classical music circles: the organisers sell tickets on the basis of the fame of the players or the orchestra. Very often they book a star without knowing what they are going to play until slmost the day before the concert. Advertising a world-famous performer is a coup, but the problem is that the music they play is often dreary and ininteresting. I would prefer a less well-known musician who has a varied program that takes you somewhere, out of your
self, beautiful, charming, imaginitive.
A good Epicurean thinks for him (or her) self, pays scant attention to professional critics, and puts a premium on beauty, peace and peace of mind.
Part of the problem with modern culture is the ceaseless desire to do something different for differences’ own sake. Whether it’s playing obscure music that’s relatively unknown for a reason, or showcasing art that was rejected from the more traditional galleries, the zeitgeist of our times insists that anything that rebels from tradition, normality or mainstream taste must automatically be worthwhile. This needless anti ‘establishment’ mode of thought is ruining high culture. In the case of your concert, I suspect they were trying to be original. Creativity ought to be encouraged, of course, but not at the expense of standards.