Clyde Fitch Report: In many ways, it might have been any other Wednesday night at the Metropolitan Opera. From the balcony, I watched an ornate canoe creep slowly across the stage, now an ocean of glittering lights. At an equally measured pace, the prince-troubadour aboard the vessel spun out an aria declaring his love for a woman across the sea, one rumored to be “ideal”. By the end of this 12th century love story, a journey and illness had given way to an ill-fated meeting; someone died, and another contemplated monastic life.
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Contemporary works in music are far more discouraged and/or frowned upon than in nearly any other art form. Contemporary works in theater are finding new support, embracing current issues, current technology, and current trends. Modern art has gained more and more of a following and modern, contemporary artists seem to face less push back than they used to from the older members of the art world. Yet, as Katelyn Simon writes, classical pieces are still upheld as the gold standard and "cultural walls" still stand strong. There definitely is something to be exalted in the artistry and power of a great symphony or sonata or opera, but there is artistry and power in contemporary work as well. Art is more powerful when it connects to our daily lives, to our political or societal climate because it strikes a person chord that will resonate beyond the moment of viewing. This "organic connection" is important and is being recognized in many art forms and I believe it is music's turn to give greater way for contemporary artists to shine. I also find it a bit funny that one big criticism of music today (particularly pop music) is the "vile" subject matter, but the classical pieces were often written about the same things, just not as obviously so.
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