Conversations with Tyler Alex Ross on Music, Culture, and Criticism
Sep 22, 2020
Alex Ross, a music critic for The New Yorker and author of "Wagnerism," talks about the nuanced connections between music and culture. He highlights the complex legacy of Wagner, the impact of recording technology on orchestras, and the training deficits in modern opera singers. Ross critiques artistic choices in films by Lars von Trier and Orson Welles, predicts shifts in concert attendance post-COVID, and discusses the influences of Rothko on music. His insights bridge the gap between classical music and wider cultural narratives.
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Opera Singer Training
- Modern opera singers prioritize technique over expressive conviction.
- This emphasis on technical perfection can detract from the emotional impact, especially in Wagner.
Homogenization of Orchestral Sound
- The homogenization of orchestral sound is due to increased professionalization and audition processes.
- This has led to technically perfect but less expressive performances, a trade-off worth questioning.
Götterdämmerung Highlights vs. Full Opera
- Tyler Cowen enjoys Kempe's single-disc highlights of Götterdämmerung more than the full opera.
- Alex Ross acknowledges the appeal of excerpts but emphasizes the dramatic richness of the full theatrical experience.
