Producer and jazz pianist Jon Cohen’s first blog on the performances and nominations for tomorrow night’s Classical BRIT Awards at the Royal Albert Hall.
When I was a young jazz pianist, I spent many hours obsessing over the minute details of Herbie Hancock’s piano technique. How did he voice that chord? How did he form that melodic line? His music, both as a composer and as a pianist had a great influence over my own musical development.
Years later, at the 2007 Classical BRITs I was astounded by the terrifying virtuosity and delicate touch of Chinese pianist Lang Lang. Imagine my excitement this year when I heard that Lang Lang and Herbie Hancock are to be performing together at The Classical BRIT Awards 2009. I shall have to resist the temptation to never again play a piano after hearing those two and rather just look forward to what promises to be quite a spectacle. In fact the whole show should be pretty impressive with a line up also including Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and my own favourite project, Faryl Smith.
I must confess that I have a touch of butterflies as Thursday evening approaches, not just because of the great lineup but also because I’m lucky enough to have produced three albums amongst the ten nominated for NS&I Album of the Year. I’m not expecting a win (surely nothing can beat the mega selling Priests album?) but I guess you never know!
The Classical BRIT awards have steadily been gaining profile in the ten years since they started. It’s hugely significant that this event now draws a large ITV audience when televised and it’s hard to overstate what a shot in the arm this is for classical music in the UK. At a time when TV talent shows are relentlessly dictating the landscape of the music industry, it seems that the value of high quality, timeless music performed with real virtuosity has never been more relevant. It’s not that many of the people coming through the ranks of X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent et al are not hugely talented. It’s just that there’s something formulaic and predictable about the whole business. At the risk of sounding like a terrible snob, there is something more “real” about the music celebrated by the Classical Brits.
In a hundred years time they will still be recording this stuff, and in fact, probably still listening to the great recordings of the 20th century. Classical music was in its day the popular music of the people. Events like the Classical BRITs are helping to ensure that the broad appeal of classical music continues on.
Nancy Gottesmann
10 months, 1 week ago
There are many blogs around that criticize, if not demonize, the direction that ‘popular’ classical music appears to be taking. The ‘crossover’ genre is vilified, mocked, discredited and then discarded by the classical purists.
It is this elitist attitude that perpetuates the rich/poor, privileged/underprivileged and educated/uneducated divide.
Thanks to radio stations like Classic FM, and the younger, trendier and more accessible musicians and singers, there is a chance that the Reality TV audiences might be lured ‘upwards’, and given a chance, even in a populist way to begin with, to develop listening skills that will open their ears, their minds and their emotions towards more refined listening experiences.
It is obvious that the musical snobs who are so critical of the Classical Brits and their often physically attractive (eye candy?) yet highly talented nominees, do not intend to do anything practical towards reaching wider audiences.
Let the uptight elitists remain locked in their ivory towers, until such time as they have a more practical solution for introducing classical - and yes crossover - music to everyone.
Fancy Nancy