[lit-ideas] signature work?
- From: Eric Yost <mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:05:26 -0500
Quoth the auto-mailer:
CARNEGIE HALL At A Glance
Calendar: December 8 - 19
Seiji Ozawa comes to Carnegie Hall with the Saito
Kinen Orchestra, one of the world's best
orchestras as named by Gramophone, for three
performances this December, including a
performance of Britten's War Requiem, one of
Ozawa's signature works, on December 18.
http://msg4svc.net/cedyj/297235/64/147920/13126/0/S/0/0/gaia.html
_____
Avoiding what "as named by Gramophone" signals,
consider "one of Ozawa's signature works." If
anyone has a right to sign the work it's B.
Britten and he's dead.
Yet granting that a "signature work" implies that
the performer has added some special touch or
quality to a piece, thereby "putting his signature
to it" -- what has Ozawa done?
Conducted something well for a change? Substituted
tubas for cellos? Added real field howitzers to
fire upon the audience? Mixed in sections of the
1812 Overture? Faced the audience and declared
"Mine, mine, mine!" between sections?
And what about the Saito Kinen Orchestra -- are
they mere blank slates upon which Ozawa imprints
his mighty name? Suppose the horn section of the
Saito Kinen Orchestra has a collective flu and
flub note after note, blatting and effusing like a
gang of fatsos after an all-you-can-eat cassoulet
buffet? Have they marred Ozawa's signature?
Rendered it illegible?
Letting Gramophone name,
Eric
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