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of the reader if possible.” Check out his Blog Britten, Tippett, Walton as they were writing – it’s great! their masterieces and being able to discuss “A lot of modern critics employ double them with the composers. I’ve met many of standards. If it’s a new piece they go for it, in the most famous musicians: Messiaen, Nono, the old days they’d have gone at it!” Stockhausen, Strauss.” Ever lighthearted John then told me a Meeting Richard Strauss face to face is criticism joke about Sarasate. “Sarasate last described as “one of the most climactic mom - Tuesday left all criticism behind him, as he did ents in my life”. “It was during the Beecham/ the orchestra.” Strauss Festival in Drury Lane. I was working Sir Thomas Beecham was also reported to for Beecham then and went to see him arriv - be quite a wit and a bit of a joker: wasn’t it ing at the same time as Strauss. The door was Dame Kiri te Kanawa Beecham, who, when asked if he had ever locked and Strauss turned and looked me conducted any Stockhausen, said, “No, but I straight in the eye and shouted loudly, “diese once trod in some.”? verdammen Tür”. I was too shocked to say efugees are grateful people and Georg Solti “Beecham only ever told me one joke in all anything. Fortunately someone came and Rnever forgot how many people helped him the years I worked for him, he needed to have opened it.” to get work with letters of recommend ation, an audience or an orchestra in front of him to “Stockhausen was an hour late for a TV including Arturo Toscanini with whom he had become entertaining. Beecham wasn’t the interview I was doing with him. In about 10 worked as a repetiteur at the Salzburg Festival. greatest conductor but he was without doubt minutes he could have had me licking his His philosophy was simple but also hard,” the most enjoyable.” boots – he had magnetism: an amazing quality.” never give up!”, and because he knew how hard Which conductors do you rate in the Then we were off down a little side path it was for musicians to get a lucky break he current crop I asked? “Charles Mackerras, discussing a letter he’d been outraged by in wanted to share his luck with them. Nikolaus Harnoncourt, John Eliot Gardner, The Spectator which declared Bel Canto opera Valerie, Lady Solti, told me that in the last Vladimir Jurowski, Edward Gardner: not in as not having creditable plots. “It’s not natural years of his life he had thought of starting a any particular order. I’d like to hear Gustavo to sing instead of talking so the whole thing repetiteurs course, but that is something for the Dudamel. There are some good ones around. starts off on an unreal foot. The thing about future. After his death in 1997 there have been I’ve done enough conducting myself to know Donizetti, Bellini, Rossini and co is that they many projects associated with his name, and I can’t conduct!” made technically wonderful tunes, such won - the most recent is a bel canto course at the “Conducting is a mysterious craft, quite derful harmonies unlike the incessant burb - Accademia Solti in Castiglione della Pescaia, a undemocratic, like being back in school: some ling of Wagner or the constant din of Harrison small and elegant coastal village in Tuscany orchestra members hate it. Malcolm Sargent Birtwistle. For me, if there’s nothing to where he and his family own a house and used to treat them like children; Beecham remember, there is nothing.” where he used to spend all his holidays. never did.” John Amis and classical music are sym biotic; This project has developed in the last six In 1948 Sir William Glock invited John he talks about music in emotional terms with years thanks to the tireless work and organis - Amis to help run a summer school for music - great passion and an encyclopaedic knowledge ational skills of its co founder, Candice Woods, ians at Bryanston public school. The now fam - created from a lifetime devotion. As I left he and several important sponsors, especially the ous summer school moved to Dart ing ton in was packing to go to the Alde burgh Festival Peretti Foundation. Solti’s generosity is in evid - 1953. Amis remained administrative director for the 61st time where he was scheduled to ence, the course is free and so is the acc om - until 1981, during which time he and Glock deliver a talk on Britten and Tippett. He tells modation and food for all 14 singers and two brought to the school a long line of inter - me, “If I go to a concert nowadays I seldom repetiteurs during the three week period. The national musicians, amongst them Enesco, meet anyone I know, but in Aldeburgh I know structure allows for five initial days working Hindemith, Stravinsky and Tippett. everyone.” I can believe it. with well known singers such as Mirella Freni “Michael Tippett was a great friend of Friendly, warm, intelligent and funny: in a or Leo Nucci. This year Kiri te Kanawa and mine, we were very close: we were intimate, word John Amis is irreplaceable; his new ‘bird’ Frederica von Stade shared the honours with not in a sexual way as I’m not homosexual and better watch out though as I might just be completely different styles. Solti’s favourite he knew that. He liked young people and he tempted to give her a run for her money! ■ soprano and friend con cen trated on singing liked me. He really educated me, not just technique, voice support and exercises, whilst about music, but about everything: he made My Music in London 1945 - 2000 von Stade took care of phras ing and also of me think and ask myself questions which I Publisher: Amiscellany Books giving courage to the singers for the task ahead. think is the role of a good teacher. The other ISBN-10: 0955158001 “My job is to give them confidence, I do not teacher in my life was Glock. I think I have ISBN-13: 978-0955158001 wish to hurt anybody but sometimes vices http://johnamismusic.blogspot.com/ been very, very lucky altogether, knowing creep in and a singer does not know how to 26 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 MUSICAL OPINION Valerie, Lady Solti All photos Eduardo Benarroch Georg Solti’s helping hand Eduardo Benarroch reviews this famous bel canto course correct them, that’s what I am here for,” Later we hear sop - Jonathan Papp who explained Flicka von Stade with her quiet and rano Narine Ojak - acts as accompanist modest manner. She loves working with hyan from Armenia and vocal coach. There disadvantaged children in Oakland, Calif - and the advice comes is a close collabor at - ornia,” and that is where my heart is at the hard and fast, “if you ion bet ween the Royal moment”, adds Flicka. Both are good friends are going to push a Acad emy of Music in and that allows for a good working atmos - note make sure you London, the Julliard phere, one can interrupt the other without start it well, be con - School in New York, problems and they often laugh together. fident, on stage no - the Curtis Institute in Kiri te Kanawa adopts a tougher but kind body can touch you…” Philadelphia and the approach, “you have to learn to support prop - A young and Con serv atorio di erly, this is a red flag day for you!” explains the beautiful singer from Pescara. Maori soprano to one of the best voices of the the Mariinsky is also Federica von Stade with The atmosphere is course, the American baritone Nathan Herfin - taking part and soon Kiri te Kanawa relaxed but serious, all dahl. She wants his tongue to face down, “it her repertoire is com - students have full sch - seems stupid but it works … here’s a mirror, pletely changed, “for the next three months you edules and they work hard, “it’s amazing to see look at your tongue”. Later they sing together should just sing Mozart … Ach ich fuehl’s, how they develop in such a short period of a duet from I Pagliacci, and where else would Porgi amor…”. 22 year old Eleonora Vindau time”, explains the enthusiastic and always a young singer get the chance to sing with Kiri has time on her side and she is willing to learn. patient Papp. te Kanawa as Nedda? She needs to be a dip - After five days with star singers comes the The spirit is that of Georg Solti. “He lomat as well to convey her message. Singers hard grind of working for the final recital on always had the dream to hold masterclasses are notoriously difficult to change their habits 19 July at the renowned Hotel Andana here in Castiglione and I hope in a way we are even if they are bad habits but they can also preceded by a free concert at Piazza Solti at the fulfilling his dream”, explained Lady Valerie feel the difference and slowly they relax and top of the hill overlooking the bay, on 18 July. with emotion in her eyes. “My husband was have confidence, and to inspire that confid - This work involves Maestro Paolo Specca, often misunderstood, at the end of his life he ence is also part of being a good teacher! “Be Prof essor Emanuela Ferrari and Corradina took many new interests, he would have loved brave Nathan, don’t quit! Your voice is big Caporello and Drama Coach Shirley Keane as the idea of this Accademia and he would have enough, do not give more…” well as the Accad em ia’s Artistic Director laughed as he never conducted bel canto!” ■ MUSICAL OPINION SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 27.
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