Comments on: Fail Whale

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:59:51 +0000

To JL: I agree that U.S. critics can at times be no better (I still get in a tizzy when I think about what happened to Paul Bunyan), but having said that I think there are more good writers on musical topics in the U.S. now than there have ever been. And to be fair, there are and always have been lots in the U.K. also.

To all: I’m sorry if my earlier comments seemed intemperate. I do however think that some of the folks on parterre are way out of line.

Gibbons is indeed sublime.

By: Kenny

Kenny — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:30:00 +0000

Don Giovanni is “super-rapey.” Gold.

By: peter john boyle

peter john boyle — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:51:02 +0000

HA! Temple Grandin! AINT THAT THE AUTISTIC PERSON WHO FIGURED OUT
HOW TO DESIGN LIVESTOCK RUNWAYS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE ANIMAL?

By: Amanda White

Amanda White — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:40:55 +0000

As a singer- Re: rhythm notation, I agree that some rhythms must be extremely precise and others are very cantabile. But: I think it’s really important to notate which is which, because whichever one you choose (or intuit), someone (a conductor, coach, whoever) will tell you it should be the opposite.

By: Aoife

Aoife — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:04:25 +0000

It’s sad on so many levels that certain journalists are talking shit about you – especially when there are so many utterly terrible bands and musicians out there who are being championed by the mainstream press. (I had to interview a particularly dim musician recently, and it made me fear for the future of the human race. Honestly, the amount of idiots who believe they’re God’s gift is frightening. But I digress…)\nBut the important thing is not to lose faith, not to let their petty nastiness affect what you think of your work. \n\nThe problem with coming to the attention of the media, in whatever musical arena you’re in, is that some people seem to automatically assume you’re not entitled to be there. And they generally fail to realise that you don’t tell journalists what to write about you – you don’t choose whether they call you the saviour of classical music or not.\n\nThe idea that someone believes your career is predestined to fail speaks more about their idiocy than your ability, so really, why give a fuck about what they have to say? \nJust keep doing what you’re doing, and forget about the naysayers and miserablists.

By: Jim Lochner

Jim Lochner — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:38:09 +0000

Bernard Herrmann said in 1971: â€œThe only thing I ever did do that was foolhardy was to write an opera [WUTHERING HEIGHTS]. Franz Liszt said that you have to have the soul of a hero to write an opera and the mentality of a lackey to have it produced.â€

Nico, continue to have the soul of a hero and ignore the lackey mentality that pervades critics and the Internet. (To my fellow commenters, trust me, opinions originating from the US are no better.) Trust your vision, and to quote Bette Midler : “F*** ‘em if they can’t take a joke!”

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:20:16 +0000

Cunty, evil British critics have been behaving this way for decades, and their effect has in many respects been hugely destructive. Ever wonder why Howells, say, never wrote an opera? It wasn’t because he was incapable of it or uninterested in the genre.

They won’t stop hating you. Why? Because you commit the offence of writing music people want to perform and listen to and that moves their souls. They can’t risk a positive response to your music because they might be thought unsophisticated. It’s as though a composer is expected to pay a price for the privilege of having his or her music performed and received with favour by the critics, and that price is to sacrifice popular acclaim. You are seen as not having paid your dues, and they are way too fraught with ressentiment ever to permit you to succeed. But it doesn’t matter: you will anyway, and indeed already have.

By: Chris Becker

Chris Becker — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:07:02 +0000

“Iâ€™m going to turn these queens to the light somehow, through a combination of a charm offensive and writing good work. If thatâ€™s not enough, I donâ€™t know what is.”

Creating great music is the best revenge.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:09:48 +0000

Take no notice of what the journalists write here in England. You are very gifted indeed and are just at the start of a wonderful career. Follow your inner light and all manner of thing shall be well.

By: David

David — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:57:49 +0000

It was pretty cool the other day to talk to my friend Nic Filzin for the first time in a long while, and to hear that he had sung in your opera. I was proud of both of you!