With Christmas just days away, I thought Santa, busy guy that he is just now, might appreciate some last-minute gift suggestions for some of the more deserving music folk on his list.
To wit:
For Dan Hincks
A series of full houses and a river of ledger book black ink. The farsighted owner of the brand new Infinity Hall deserves no less for boldly building his dazzling little bijou of a theater/bistro in downtown Hartford. Hincks’ decision to put a 500-seat performance space into the newly energized Front Street area is a potentially transformative development for the city. Give Santa a hand and go buy some tickets to something.
For Taylor Swift
A tasteful floral arrangement to pop’s newest queen for having the courage to refuse, and publicly denounce, the Scroogelike pittance that Spotify pays the musicians and composers whose songs it appropriates. Granted, forgoing the streaming service did not vastly cut into her take-home pay last year, but she defended her actions in a principled articulate way. Not only that, but her blockbuster album “1989” was a musically impressive piece of work, even for a grizzled old listener who had previously been dismissive of her – mistakenly, it seems.
For the Charter Oak Cultural Center
A well-earned case of Dom Perignon Rose 2002 to celebrate the truly dazzling array of music (and dance and theater) activities that the Center is now home to. Housed in a building that is recognized as having been the state’s first synagogue, the center, under its tireless leader Rabbi Donna Berman and her staff, has become one of the most enterprising and indispensible arts presenters in the region. MazelTov! Skoal! Salut!
For Peter Gelb
A modest necktie from Macy’s for resisting pressure to shut down the Met Opera’s production of John Adams’ polarizing opera, “The Death of Klinghoffer.” The opera, which had been vilified as anti-Semitic (in some cases by people who admitted they had never seen it or read the libretto), was finally presented at the Met, to generally respectful reviews. The only unfortunate thing (and the reason Gelb doesn’t merit a nicer present) is that he did capitulate to pressure and cancel the HD broadcast transmission of the opera.
For the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
Two gifts, not available in any store: 1) a contract extension for music director Carolyn Kuan. She has certainly earned it, with imaginative programming, great audience rapport, etc. etc. 2) a new working agreement with the players that will help both the HSO and its musicians be more flexible, more adaptable, more relevant to the world as we now find it. If there is a silver lining to the challenges that the performing arts face these days, it is the realization on the part of managements and performers alike that we are all in this together. Maybe, as I think about it, Santa could leave behind a couple of pitchers of holiday nog just to help lubricate the negotiation wheels.
For the Kawai Piano Company
An assortment of fine chocolates to the good people in Kawai’s Customer Relations department. Several years ago, I bought a slightly used Kawai piano for my livingroom. Unfortunately it developed some problems that neither my local tuner nor a Kawai technician was able to rectify. Solution: The company, making good on its warranty without the slightest hesitation or hassle, presented me a few months ago with a brand new instrument. We’re talking here about a six-foot grand piano, with a retail price equivalent to a midsized car. Would that every company would stand behind its products so unconditionally. (And would that more American families think about putting a piano – a real, “acoustic” piano, I mean – in their homes in 2015.)
For CONCORA
A shiny, brand-new artistic director to replace the outgoing Richard Coffey, who last year hung them up after a mere 40 years in the position. The group is in the midst of considering three finalists; the winner, needless to say, will have his work cut out to succeed the iconic Mr. Coffey.
For The Hartt School
A handful of generous music-loving angels to step forward and help the school bring to a happy conclusion its $3 million campaign to refurbish its main building, officially known as the Alfred C. Fuller Music Center. The campaign – dubbed “Fuller at 50” in recognition of the fact that the complex opened in 1963 – will modernize Millard Auditorium and several other key performance/rehearsal spaces. Santa’s vaunted networking skills will probably be required on this one.
For Jan Swafford
A handsome leather-trimmed desk set for the author of this year’s most absorbing music biography, Beethoven: Anguish and Triumph.
Meticulous and detailed (1,100 pages, give or take), yet managing to move through the composer’s 57 years at a crisp, satisfying tempo, the book is an essential new addition to the already immense mountain of Beethoven bios and studies.
And, as with his previous books on Brahms and Ives, Swafford offers insights into the person as well as the work.
For Leon Fleisher
A healthful fruit basket – not that he doesn’t clearly already lead a healthy life – for the revered American pianist who has weathered a series of physical challenges, most of them involving his right hand, and yet who remains a vital presence in the classical music scene at age 86. In fact just a few months ago he released an instantly brisk-selling CD of piano pieces for left hand alone, including a lilting version of “All the Things You Are.”
For New York City Opera
A wad of Benjamins to augment the largesse that is reportedly already materializing to resurrect the company that ignominiously (and to many minds, unnecessarily) folded last year. A crucial benefit performance, starring Placido Domingo, is coming up in March.
For Andris Nelsons
As a discreet face-saving present for the new Boston Symphony Orchestra music director, a private tutorial – perhaps with Clay Buchholz or John Lackey or one of the other Red Sox righties – on how to throw out the first ball at a major-league game. Nelsons’ initial effort, made last spring at Fenway shortly after the new maestro arrived in town, was sadly wince-inducing even for a primarily soccer-oriented Latvian.
Steve Metcalf was The Hartford Courant’s fulltime classical music critic and reporter for over 20 years, beginning in 1982. He is currently the curator of the Richard P. Garmany Chamber Music Series at The Hartt School. He can be reached at spmetcalf55@gmail.com.
