Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
Wed, Apr 10 2013, 2:19PM
"Unexpectedly, she nurtured a passion for Bela Bartok. When the composer’s remains were transported from the US back to Hungary in 1988, she drove to Southampton to pay her respects as the ship docked and attend a memorial concert. ‘I have always been whenever Sir George Solti has been doing Bartok,’ she once declared." (from N. Lebrecht's Slipped Disc blog).
Wed, Apr 10 2013, 4:28PM
#2
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
I'm not surprised. When you spend your life trying to get away from left wing sentimentality you will naturally not have much time for the pretentious avant garde experimentalism of the day. Or for the more romantic slush of the distant past. She probably even had a Bluebeard.
I don't quite get your point, Mr Nuff. In whose opinion is "the avant garde experimentalism of the day" pretentious, hers or yours? In my view, Bartok's music can even now shock some music lovers and be a hard nut to swallow. How about the last two string quartets, for a start?
Wed, Apr 10 2013, 5:24PM
#3
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
In my view, Bartok's music can even now shock some music lovers and be a hard nut to swallow. How about the last two string quartets, for a start?
Sorry Adrian but we young bucks don't find Bartok as difficult as you old guys.
Wed, Apr 10 2013, 5:28PM
#4
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
Sorry Adrian but we young bucks don't find Bartok as difficult as you old guys.
It all depends what you mean by "old", Mr Nuff! Anyone who claims never to find Bartok difficult has failed fully to understand what he is about, in my view.
Wed, Apr 10 2013, 7:45PM
#5
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
Bartok is complex in his simplicity but simple in his complexity and therefore easy to understand in a hard way. You don't seem to get Bartok Adrian.
Thu, Apr 11 2013, 2:31AM
#6
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
Sidney, Bartok is one of the greatest composers of the past century both in his simplicity or complexity and that counts more than anything else.
The intriguing thing is how and why the late baroness was fond of such a different to British or even Occidental values and culture composer. I guess the "Miraculous Mandarin" sould not be his favourite work, but the Divertimento for Strings would suit her quite well.
Parla
Thu, Apr 11 2013, 8:57AM
#7
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
Bluebeard might be her favourite work, but who would she keep entombed but still alive. Sacked cabinet ministers. Or maybe behind the first door .. Arthur Scargill. In two, yes it's Harold Wilson. In three that old card Argentine Generalisimo el Presidente..
Thu, Apr 11 2013, 10:39AM
#8
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
Sorry I started this post: it has turned silly!
Thu, Apr 11 2013, 11:32AM
#9
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
I think it started pretty silly, with a complete invention!
Thu, Apr 11 2013, 11:55AM
#10
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
I think it started pretty silly, with a complete invention!
This remark is not only stupid, it also happens to be false.
Thu, Apr 11 2013, 1:15PM
#11
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
The Lady was not for Turnage apparently, it's true, it's true I tell you.
Thu, Apr 11 2013, 1:19PM
#12
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
There's very little evidence for Mrs T having any interest in music, never mind Bartok for heaven's sake. Are you sure Norman L didn't pen those words one April Fool's Day?
PS Went to plenty of Solti conducting Bartok concerts in the 80s at the RFH - not much evidence of prime ministers about the place.
Thu, Apr 11 2013, 1:20PM
#13
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
The Lady was not for Turnage apparently, it's true, it's true I tell you.
Like that one!
Thu, Apr 11 2013, 2:13PM
#14
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
She went regularly to the Royal Opera House. You may not have seen her at Solti's Bartok concerts (one up to you for going to those!) simply because she used to go in a private capacity.
Thu, Apr 11 2013, 2:23PM
#15
RE: Margaret Thatcher loved Bartok.
she used to go in a private capacity.
They are called London cabs Adrian.
I'm not surprised. When you spend your life trying to get away from left wing sentimentality you will naturally not have much time for the pretentious avant garde experimentalism of the day. Or for the more romantic slush of the distant past. She probably even had a Bluebeard.