Ades anyone?

Music Lane

It's all about the music, dude! Sit down, relax and listen to some tunes.

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I just finished listening to a symphony (I guess that's what it was) on the radio by Thomas Ades called "Asyla". (Latin plural for asylum, sort of appropriate, huh?) The program was devoted to new music, or at least new cds to the station. The hosts sort of reveiw them and give their opinions, kind of like Siskle & Ebert. They talked at length about this guy and even had a phone conversation with some guy (a critic or writer?) from London. After the interview, they played this piece. The hosts then disagreed about the music. The woman liked it. She thought it was intriguing and wanted to explore more of his music. The man, did not care for it because he did not "understand the language", which was new to him. He did recognize that the music had some substance and that the composer is talented. He just did not understand the music, therefore did not really warm up to it.
What a suprise for me! Here is a guy making his living with classical music and he is as lost as me. I sort of liked it. While I also did not get the "language", I too, like the woman, found it to be worthy of more attention. I get more or less the same reaction to Mahler and the little Bruckner that I have heard, among others. I don't understand it (yet anyway, and therefore can not embrace it like some others) but I recognize there is something going on that is worthwhile.
I read some reviews at Amazon.com and the feelings were mixed, as I expected. It is different, with some new sounds (makes sense, since the guy is only 29 years old), but some compared his work to Colgrass and Ligeti (neither of which I know anything about). One said of the "Asyla" it was written for a Mahler sized orchestra plus three pianos. Another said the third movement sounded like a marching band gone haywire.
I have not seen this guy's name mentioned here (even searched the archives). Has anyone ever heard this or any of his other work? He does have an opera called "Powder Her Face". (Sounds interesting as it involves the subject of, err, umm, how should I say this...oral sex. Bet you don't find a lot of that in Mozart's operas.) Is this guy too far out there for the traditionalists, is he a rising young talent, or does he just plain suck?
I am tempted to listen to more (but then what do I know :-)).
Neil

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The Cable Cooker

Topic - Ades anyone? - Neil E. 09:25:38 02/22/00 (2)

The British Audio Press... - SE 12:01:23 02/24/00 (1)

P.S. - SE 12:05:28 02/24/00 (0)

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