A thorough introduction to the important American composer and provocateur, with a generous range of musical excerpts from his work. The interview shows off Rorem's characteristic candor and eccentric opinions -- for example, failing to see what's so great about Beethoven.
There is one thing I really love and admire about Sarah Fishko's work -- her capacity to be at once engaged with and yet detached from her material. This interview with Ned Rorem is an extraordinarily apt example of this: Just as Rorem defines his own visions of "red" and "blue" (read German and French), Fishko lets the listener experience Ned Rorem's charm while staying true as a compass point to -- forgive me -- the necessity of art.
And as we learn in the course of this hour, Ned Rorem is a galvanizing thinker about how, and where, and why we choose art to express ourselves.
I hope that PDs with classical music programming in their charge will find an hour for this. It's worth more than that, of course, but so much of what we hear on the classical air is Dawn of the Dead material, it's a wonder there's anyone living actually doing anything. Fishko's Rorem interview is a terrific reminder that this music matters every bit as much as a dope slap from Click and Clack.
WNYC'ss "cultural attache" Sara Fishko talks with American composer Ned Rorem. This 59 minute interview, with plenty of music and interesting and amusing musical anecdotes, is worth hearing if only to hear Rorem say, and then explain convincingly, how French music is "profoundly superficial", and German music is "superficially profound."
The back and forth between the composer and host includes well chosen excerpts from Rorem's own compositions, including the Barcarolles, the Concerto for Piano Left Hand, Eleven Studies and several songs.
Rorem remembers some of his early run-ins with Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Virgil Thompson, and presents a compelling theory linking composition to acts of musical thievery and cover up.
Rorem is a fascinating and compelling thinker who expresses ideas and opinions easily, and no matter the complexity, he always speaks in listener language. Though highly opinionated - he never annoys or condescends. More importantly, he always provides clear and intelligent support of those strong opinions.
Highly suitable for evening and weekend classical music programming. I could hear this on a Saturday afternoon after the MET and easily on a Sunday afternoon or late morning.
Comments for WNYC's Fishko Files: An Hour with Ned Rorem
This piece belongs to the series "WNYC's Fishko Files"
Produced by Sara Fishko for WNYC, New York Public Radio
Other pieces by WNYC
Rating Summary
3 comments
Rob Handel
Posted on July 28, 2008 at 12:40 PM | Permalink
Review of WNYC's Fishko Files: An Hour with Ned Rorem
A thorough introduction to the important American composer and provocateur, with a generous range of musical excerpts from his work. The interview shows off Rorem's characteristic candor and eccentric opinions -- for example, failing to see what's so great about Beethoven.
Jackson Braider
Posted on July 09, 2007 at 06:00 PM | Permalink
Review of WNYC's Fishko Files: An Hour with Ned Rorem
There is one thing I really love and admire about Sarah Fishko's work -- her capacity to be at once engaged with and yet detached from her material. This interview with Ned Rorem is an extraordinarily apt example of this: Just as Rorem defines his own visions of "red" and "blue" (read German and French), Fishko lets the listener experience Ned Rorem's charm while staying true as a compass point to -- forgive me -- the necessity of art.
And as we learn in the course of this hour, Ned Rorem is a galvanizing thinker about how, and where, and why we choose art to express ourselves.
I hope that PDs with classical music programming in their charge will find an hour for this. It's worth more than that, of course, but so much of what we hear on the classical air is Dawn of the Dead material, it's a wonder there's anyone living actually doing anything. Fishko's Rorem interview is a terrific reminder that this music matters every bit as much as a dope slap from Click and Clack.
David Srebnik
Posted on July 09, 2007 at 03:21 AM | Permalink
Review of WNYC's Fishko Files: An Hour with Ned Rorem
WNYC'ss "cultural attache" Sara Fishko talks with American composer Ned Rorem. This 59 minute interview, with plenty of music and interesting and amusing musical anecdotes, is worth hearing if only to hear Rorem say, and then explain convincingly, how French music is "profoundly superficial", and German music is "superficially profound."
The back and forth between the composer and host includes well chosen excerpts from Rorem's own compositions, including the Barcarolles, the Concerto for Piano Left Hand, Eleven Studies and several songs.
Rorem remembers some of his early run-ins with Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Virgil Thompson, and presents a compelling theory linking composition to acts of musical thievery and cover up.
Rorem is a fascinating and compelling thinker who expresses ideas and opinions easily, and no matter the complexity, he always speaks in listener language. Though highly opinionated - he never annoys or condescends. More importantly, he always provides clear and intelligent support of those strong opinions.
Highly suitable for evening and weekend classical music programming. I could hear this on a Saturday afternoon after the MET and easily on a Sunday afternoon or late morning.