New York Collegium at St Vincent Ferrer
As I was taking a break during the interval at last week's New York Collegium concert, I overheard someone complain that a program consisting of three Bach cantatas was "a bit much." Not for me, it wasn't. These works have a bottomless appeal for me. I don't like them equally - I don't even know most of them at all, or well - but their relentless transformation of liturgical utility and formal complexity into the most seriously delightful music ever written never ceases to amaze me.
When I got home, I thought I'd check out the library to see if I had any recordings of the the three works, BWV 22, 23, and 75. And what do you suppose I found? I found that these three connected cantatas have all been recorded together as Volume 8 of the impressive Bach Collegium Japan series on BIS. I bought a lot of these back in the late Nineties, all at once, so it's no wonder that I never got round to knowing this recording. I have to wonder if it inspired Mr Parrott's programming.
Sadly, the program announced that the Collegium, which has been somewhat strapped for funding recently, will not offer a subscription series next season. That's an awful blow. Where are all those hedge fund zillionaires?
Comments
Yes, where are all those hedge fund zillionaires?? Opera Orchestra of NY, now 35 years old, is in danger of going under, if it hasn't already. Over the years it provided some extraordinary performances, operas not yet or never in the Met's or City Opera's repertoire. It usually presents 3 works and the rumors are 1 and maybe none next year.
Since the emphasis has been on bel canto (or 'can belto') I am about done with them but it is a shame that they're failing at a time when there is so much money around. $1000 pizzas remind me that there's perhaps too much money around........
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March 21, 2007 07:24 AM
The question is not really, "Where are the zillionaires?" In a world where merely having money seems to make you someone important, rather than being the key to the leisure to study and develop rudimentary cultural awareness, if only to social climb; there is no longer a reason to support these venues.
Throw money at the kid's school so they will keep him, no matter how poorly he does; support the BIG institutions because it looks and sounds good when it is time to marry off the daughter or get the wife invited to a tea (is there still tea being served anywhere?) The bottom line (no pun intended, if only because it is not funny) is that because there is no social pressure, there is no reason to give to these cultural causes; there is no perceived payback.
In the past, people supported these cultural groups from either sheer conviction or social climbing, and all ended up more culturally aware to a greater or lesser degree, if only by osmosis. Now, with the lowest common denominator being the new golden mean, we may see in our lifetime the arts retreat back to the monasteries (if there are any of those left) The new Dark Ages may have arrived, with a $1000.00 pizza as its cultural legacy...
Posted by: LXIV | March 21, 2007 03:59 PM