Handel?

Okay, so I really like Handel now. I think for so long my view of Handel was shaped by the post- World War II-super-slow-treat-it-like-a-museum-piece approach. This music is so human and so passionate, and that does not come across at all when it is bogged down with inarticulate lush playing and heavy and slow vocalism. I don't think Handel is as multi-layered as Bach, in fact I don't think anyone is as multi-layered as Bach. But when Handel is really done well, there's this noble beauty where time stops, much as in Mozart's best moments. It's simply the sustain of a powerful emotional moment as only a true dramatic composer can do. I see a lot of parallels between Handel and Mozart. No matter what they are writing it's influenced by the theater. And is our job as performers to bring out that theatricality. This is why I so enjoyed doing 'Messiah' with Nicholas McGegan: he made it seem like an opera with all of these different emotional contrasts. And that's what Handel is all about really.

On a side note, Radiohead is recording again. Hurrah! And what's more is I found out from another classical music blog. It seems as if much of the classical community is beginning to embrace Radiohead as the big hope of contemporary popular music (though they're not really "pop" at all). I've been arguing for awhile Radiohead is creating music that's as interesting as a lot of contemporary "classical" music. I wait with bated breath...