Samuel Barber – On the Intelligibility of Music
Is music something intellectual? Or something for the “broad masses”? You may have a clear opinion about this. However, generations of composers have argued about this question – and are still arguing today. The US composer Samuel Barber (1910 – 1981) is one of the few who took a clear stand.
The 3 Most Popular Blogposts of 2020
The year 2020 has come to an end and with it a turbulent year for many cultural professionals. Since the launch of the StarkConductor Blog on 22 August 2020, I have published 28 blogposts. I will briefly present the three most popular ones here.
Menotti: How To Become a Successful Composer
How does one become successful as a composer? Very simple, says Gian Carlo Menotti: wait until you are 90 years old.
The Two Faces of the Upbeat
The upbeat is a widespread phenomenon in music. For us conductors, it has a particularly great significance, because there are different kinds of upbeats.
The Volksoper Wien – Diversity From The Very Beginning
122 years ago today, the Volksoper Wien was opened. A few thoughts on the history and tradition of this diverse house.
Haydn, the Folklorist
Have you ever asked yourself where great composers got their ideas from? No doubt: a thorough education, a solid mastery of the craft of composition and an untiring will to work have always been decisive. But sometimes great composers have simply copied.