American Insularity

 

I made a list of possible titles for posts back in January. Three months later I have forgotten quite what I was going to say but in general terms, I think I wanted to remark on the insularity shown in the USA for some aspects in the wider musical world.

I mean this only as a mild reproach because we all see things from our own point of view. Also, America, - principally the United States - has always been the recipient talent from abroad so they an be forgiven for thinking they are central to the goings-on of the musical world. 

Of course this is not so. I am sometimes pulled up by a specially jarring example of insularity. The worst case is that of Celibidache. I'm afraid the insularity here was mutual but that is no excuse. I myself heard Celibidache dismiss the entire continent with a wave of hs hand and the comment 'This America...'

However, 'This America; didn't understand Celibidache and didn't spend much time attempting to do so. People remember his tour with the Munich Philharmonic last in his career when slow speeds tended to present problems for audiences with different expectations and also his concert at Carnegie Hall with the student orchestra of the Curtis Institute. There were appreciative reviews to be sure but also less appreciative ones.

I should mention that earlier in his career, Celibidache had something of a love affair with Buenos Aires, returning there for re-engagements in 1952 and 1957 and visiting with the Munich Philharmonic on tour in 1994 always to huge popular acclaim. He even got engaged or married in that city I believe.

There was no way American orchestras could satisfy his rehearsal demands, nor could many understand what he was aiming for.

Celibidache's European and Japanese successes didn't seem to impact on American consciousness.

And then there was all what was going on behind the Iron Curtain. We didn't know much about that in the West in general but Americans sometimes seemed to be especially blind to it.