Franz Liszt, 1858 (Franz Hanfstaengl)
Some curious coincidences spring up from time to time in music history. For instance, Bach, Handel and Domenico Scarlatti were all born in 1685. Flash forward a bit, and we see a lot of important births, and at least one death, clustering around years ending in "10" or "11": Frederic Chopin and Robert Schumann were born in 1810, Franz Liszt was born in 1811; Samuel Barber was born in 1910, and Gustav Mahler died in 1911. These composers could all be considered part of the Romantic movement, even though Barber was a product of the 20th century. And maybe we can consider the birth of Felix Mendelssohn, who entered our world in 1809, as an early entry into the group. The Romantic outpouring, which arguably began with the rebellious spirit of Beethoven and was fully ignited by the American and French Revolutions, spanned well over a century. Ironically, just as the forces of war heralded its beginning, perhaps World War I marked its decline. (Leonard Bernstein once noted that some folks feel we may still be in the Romantic period, but that's a topic to explore in a future post.) Although the Romantic period began over two centuries ago, its effects are still with us; film scores, contemporary musical theatre and even popular music of all styles owe much of their evolution to the freedoms of expression, emotion and introspection that were established during the Romantic era.
St. Louis will experience no shortage of events to commemorate these composers, and many others, across the coming season. Here are just a few highlights: Webster University will present a department-wide Barber centenary concert on October 12, and pianist Daniel Schene will perform Chopin's Concerto No. 2 in F Minor with the Webster Symphony on November 21. Maryville University will present faculty member Peter Henderson in a recital October 17 featuring music of Brahms, Schumann and Beethoven. Washington University will present a concert devoted to music of Chopin, Schumann and Barber on November 8, and the university will host a special Liszt Symposium in February. Mahler's Symphony No. 2, Resurrection, and No. 6, Tragic, will be performed by the St. Louis Symphony in the spring of 2011. The Resurrection Symphony, in particular, should not be missed. Its sweep and grandeur, encompassing the listener like a cosmic cocoon, has exerted a life-changing effect on some listeners, most notably Gilbert Kaplan, the stockbroker who dedicated his life to this symphony. Throughout the season, the SLSO will celebrate a Russian Festival that will focus on Tchaikovsky and several of his compatriots. The Arianna String Quartet, a growing crown jewel of the musical life of St. Louis—and which is attracting increasing international attention—will showcase quartets and chamber music of the Romantic era as well as selections from other periods.
It all adds up to a season of perennial favorites served up with reminders that the masterworks are interconnected with all music, and spring from a fabric that has no beginning and no end. And just think—we haven't even talked about opera yet!
Gary Scott blogs about music, education and life in general at scottmind.blogspot.com.
