NYTimes.com: Sunday Dialogue: Is Classical Music Dying?

This page was sent to you by:  ldreyer@nyc.rr.com SUNDAY REVIEW   | November 24, 2012 LETTERS:  Sunday Dialogue: Is Classical Music Dying? Readers react to a violinist’s fear that its audience is declining. Advertisement article tools sponsored by Copyright 2012  The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy

NYTimes.com: Invitation to a Dialogue: Saving Classical Music

Sent by ldreyer@nyc.rr.com: Letter Invitation to a Dialogue: Saving Classical Music A violinist writes about ways to keep classical music alive, including use of Bugs Bunny. Readers are invited to reply. Or, copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://nyti.ms/Tavb9K

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Fw: NYTimes.com: The Violin That Was a Present From Mussolini

 

 

From: ldreyer

Sent: Monday, October 01, 2012 4:52 AM

To: ldreyer@nyc.rr.com

Subject: NYTimes.com: The Violin That Was a Present From Mussolini

 

This page was sent to you by: ldreyer@nyc.rr.com   The Violin That Was a Present From Mussolini Advertisement Beasts of the Southern Wild Winner of the Camera D'Or Dev Patel, and Maggie Smith. at Cannes. Now playing in select theaters. Click here to watch the trailer Copyright 2012  The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy

Fw: NYTimes.com: Opera's Struggle for Relevance in Today's World

 

 

From: ldreyer

Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 3:26 AM

To: ldreyer@nyc.rr.com

Subject: NYTimes.com: Opera's Struggle for Relevance in Today's World

 

This page was sent to you by: ldreyer@nyc.rr.com OPINION   | August 23, 2012 LETTERS:  Opera's Struggle for Relevance in Today's World Two readers react to a Critic's Notebook article about the issues faced by opera companies. Advertisement Beasts of the Southern Wild Winner of the Camera D'Or Dev Patel, and Maggie Smith. at Cannes. Now playing in select theaters. Click here to watch the trailer Copyright 2012  The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy

Fw: "Alchemy with a white stick" article by Tom Service (06.07.12)

This letter appeared in The Guardian Weekly (July 20,2012) 

----- Original Message -----

From: Leslie Dreyer

To: weekly.letters@guardian.co.uk

Sent: Friday, July 06, 2012 10:02 AM

Subject: "Alchemy with a white stick" article by Tom Service (06.07.12)

As a violinist  who has played under the batons of Bernstein, Kleiber, Karajan, and countless other legendary conductors for over half a century, I must take issue with Tom Service's statement that "the last thing the best conductors do is to force a group of musicians to do their bidding."  I am thinking of Toscanini, Szell, Reiner, Muti, and the multitude of gifted Met guest maestros who were definitely not considered "Mr. Nice Guys" in their attitude on the podium. Moreover, if you ask 100 orchestra members what quality is most vital for a maestro you will get 100 different answers. My personal experience is that asking a musician his favorite conductor is like asking a mouse its favorite cat.

            Mr.Service correctly observes that musicians would not tolerate a lack of inspiration from a conductor. Yet he is skating on thin ice when he attempts to define the alchemy of "cosmic" performances. Whether or not the mystical contagious energy flows between a maestro and his musicans out of love or hate or fear is irrelevant. What counts is does the audience feel it as well, and what is missing in Mr. Service's analysis is certainly the most important quality  for a conductor to inspire the musicians and thrill an audience---charisma.

 

Les Dreyer

(Retired violinist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for 46 years)

 

180 West End Ave.

NYC 10023  USA

 

 

 

Fw: NYTimes.com: Violins, Old and New

 

----- Original Message -----

From: ldreyer@nyc.rr.com

To: ldreyer@nyc.rr.com

Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 7:15 AM

Subject: NYTimes.com: Violins, Old and New

This page was sent to you by:  ldreyer@nyc.rr.com OPINION   | February 02, 2012 LETTER:  Violins, Old and New A violinist responds to a Sunday Review article. Advertisement The Descendants Starring George Clooney, and directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways, Election) Now Playing in theaters. Click here to watch the trailer Copyright 2012  The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy