How do you convert a Mozart sceptic?

[Mary Chambers]

Mary, have you heard Barshai, Jansons, or Neeme Jarvi?

I'm not sure, to be honest, but I certainly haven't heard them live. I'd like to like Shostakovich, for various reasons, but I just don't. To paraphrase Beecham (?), I don't like the noise it makes.

[Dave2002]

Well, I am not the only board member here who doesn't like Mozart!!

Hi bbm - nice to see you here, even if we know we can't convert you.

I did find you this http://open.spotify.com/track/45dINJ7xPy3NGqC43X3ffH

and this

http://open.spotify.com/track/505W4FC8MVrk8dmZSa86El

Two different pitches with the Canadian Brass - one of them with Robert Moody.

Queen of the Night aria.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

On a lighter note:

In “The Bluffer’s Guide to Music” (Peter Gammond) the author suggests there are are four composers who are beyond criticism – Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and your own particular favourite.
At the end of the chapter on Mozart, he concludes with the following (written in 1966 and not very PC):-
"If you find Mozart’s music boring you had better keep this horrible fact to yourself. You might as well go around proclaiming that you are a communist or a homosexual. Cultivate a natural admiration and a mathematical memory, even take your Koechel catalogue to a party, but don’t be surprised if no-one asks you to read it."

[Flosshilde]

Certainly not

Absolutely

Is it only Mozart who (which?) gives rise to 'evangelical fervour'? Many think that JS Bach is a great composer, but you don't see threads trying to persuade others, or suggesting that if you don't like Bach you're a ... (insert suitable term of your choice) (agreed that the OP didn't make such a suggestion, but some respondents did, albeit tongue in cheek). From the start, with his father touring him round Europe, & continued by the Salzburg tourist board a Mozart myth has been built up that he is unique among composers.

[Flosshilde]

rise indignantly to Flossie's bait,

As a water nymph shouldn't it be me rising to the bait? (although dear old Alberich did a bit of rising )

[french frank]

Is it only Mozart who (which?) gives rise to 'evangelical fervour'?

Among the commonly (is that controversial?) acknowledged 'greats' of classical music, is it only Mozart that gets heaped with such contumely? No one is obliged to like or enjoy the music, but anyone who believes that there's nothing to it, it's formulaic, a load of repetitive rifs, should at least wonder whether it's not that there's 'nothing to the music' but that they're missing it.

It's not a matter of saying people are 'unintelligent' if they don't like it - tastes vary; but it might be unintelligent to think that there's nothing to like ... The two things are very different.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Is it only Mozart who (which?) gives rise to 'evangelical fervour'?

It wasn't helped by that temple he had built to himself, for the performance of only his work.


Err ... hold on ...

[Flosshilde]

Among the commonly (is that controversial?) acknowledged 'greats' of classical music, is it only Mozart that gets heaped with such contumely?

Perhaps it's two sides of the same coin? Excessive praise is met by (or prompts) an over-reaction.

Not that I dislike all Mozart - some of the operas are wonderful - terrific music & searching explorations of the human condition (but I think his libretist might have helped there). & the Exulate Jubilate is a 'fun' piece.

it might be unintelligent to think that there's nothing to like

& then again it might not.

[Flosshilde]

It wasn't helped by that temple he had built to himself, for the performance of only his work.

A genius has to make sure that his work is presented in the best conditions

[Andrew Preview]

It's the assumption (implicit in questions such as that originally posed) that if X doesn't like something that Y thinks is wonderful then X is lacking that irritates me (mildly).

Then you'll be delighted to know that I implied no such thing (see post 49), so I guess you can stop feeling (mildly) irritated.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Absolutely

Is it only Mozart who (which?) gives rise to 'evangelical fervour'? Many think that JS Bach is a great composer, but you don't see threads trying to persuade others, or suggesting that if you don't like Bach you're a ... (insert suitable term of your choice).

I recall being thought badly of my music teachers at school, because I did not particularly like Bach. Attempting to persuade me otherwise did not work, and it was only hearing the Kyrie for the B minor mass (with Karl Richter) that I became a convert.

[french frank]

It wasn't helped by that temple he had built to himself, for the performance of only his work.


Err ... hold on ...

I think it was not unusual for composers who had no regular employment to programme their own new works and hope to raise money by subscription concerts. It was how they earned their living. As composers first, rather than performers, who else's music would they play? And who else would play their new work?

[french frank]

Excessive praise is met by (or prompts) an over-reaction.

What are the criteria the individual uses for judging that the praise is 'excessive'?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

How sad, on returning after some time, to note that the unpleasantness is still going strong. From the same people, of course supported later by the same members of the clique.

Yes and no. It appears to have blown up only today after relative peace and reasoned debate. Let's hope it's just a blip.

[Flosshilde]

What are the criteria the individual uses for judging that the praise is 'excessive'?

Or indeed what is an over-reaction.

Any praise for something one doesn't agree with, or enjoy, is excessive, of course. Just as opposition to or criticism of something that one approves of is an over-reaction.