A conversation with Elliott Carter, Daniel Barenboim and James Levine

with Daniel Barenboim, James Levine and Elliott Carter
in Music
on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 * * * * *

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A conversation with composer Elliott Carter, pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim and James Levine, music director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York

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  • Comments 9
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    1. keguribap  12/20/2008 02:25 PM Report

      I was wondering if any of Elliott's previous appearances are archived somewhere...?? I would love to see all of them, and yes, I think Charlie should definitely have Elliott on by himself. I think it is viewers the producers worry about. With Levine and Barenboim there it may bring more viewers. I think Elliott would be great by himself. Maybe have him and Babbitt on together? Or someone like Oppens, Neidich, and Sherry along with Carter? The Carnegie concert (both nights actually) was life-changing for me. The critics were tough on the Stravinsky, but the energy and overall performance was great. Carter's new music is among his greatest. This is what's most amazing! Thanks for having him on the show!

    2. Aviv  12/18/2008 05:26 PM Report

      We can all learn from Elliot Carter the secrets of vitality and creativity. Try this for 10 days:

      1. Get up ready for the adventure of discovery.

      2. Create and develop the ideas and music you hear inside.

      3. Focus on your work and enjoy it.

      Aviv;

      www.avivconsulting.com

    3. erlherzog  12/14/2008 09:01 PM Report

      Previous posters might take note of the fact that this was Carter's seventh (!) appearance on Charlie Rose, so it's not as though this were a unique opportunity to hear his wisdom. I, too, found Rose's impatience with Carter a distraction, but a mild one -- and understandable: Rose needs to maintain a certain pace to retain most viewers' interest, and Carter, though as sharp as ever, is slower of speech than the other guests. As for the silly question(s): Carter was able repeatedly to give silk-purse replies to even sow's-ears queries.

      I found Carter's response to Levine's mention of Ives fascinating, and his reservation about Ives touches on exactly the critical step Bartok found he had to take in his music: to retain the feeling of folk-song while using only materials of his own invention, instead of direct quotation. It's when Bartok took that step that he became one of the great composers of the last century; and the fact that Ives didn't is one reason he's an important member of the second tier of composers of his time.

    4. BiterBit  12/14/2008 07:16 AM Report

      I agree with the comments about the amount of time given to Carter, but I would go further. When Barenboim and Levine are talking,Charlie Rose lets them speak. When Carter speaks, Charlie frequently interrupts, speaks over him and tries to paraphrase what he says as if he can't express himself clearly. Overall I had the impression that Charlie was speaking down to Carter. You can see it in his body language, the way he leans forward and bends his head when speaking to Carter, but sits back and straight when speaking to the others. I found it quite disturbing.

      Also, it's Elliott Carter, not Elliot. Is this another sign of disrespect, not even bothering to spell his name right? Come on!

    5. bratschekind  12/13/2008 12:47 AM Report

      raleyhl, I enjoyed hearing from Levine and Barenboim and the praise from for Carter was well eloquent and well deserved. However, Elliot Carter is 100 and we rarely get this kind of opportunity. There is probably not another person alive who knew almost every major musician of the last century going all the way back to Charles Ives. The entire segment was thirty minutes and the majority of the time was taken by Levine and Barenboim. That's like having Elliot Carter on and doing a five minutes interview with him. What a wasted opportunity!

    6. raleyhl  12/13/2008 12:21 AM Report

      What a fascinating conversation--Barenboim and Levine did not take away from Carter, as others have opined here. On the contrary--they illuminated him, and provided possible paths to deeper understanding. Three great musical thinkers, three great musicians--on one program! And on American TV. Astounding. There is hope, even on this day of failing companies, violent deaths, and obituaries for pin-up girls from the 50s.

    7. Stuartg  12/12/2008 12:27 PM Report

      Elliot, with his wife and son David, lived as our neighbors surrounded by our farm in Dorset, Vermont during the 1950s. At age 10 his son David and I wandered in and out of the Carter's small 800 square foot solid marble home. I remember walking from our home along a narrow dirt drive through our hay field, accross a bridge and around behind a small knoll to visit David. There was a small, very cold garage with a piano in a small room in the back. Having missed previous interviews with Elliot I was pleasantly surprised to see how bright and healthy he appeared one day before his 100th birthday. I agree with the writer of a previous comment regarding missed opportunities. I hope to see Elliot again as a guest and look forward to hearing many more life stories from this very interesting man.

    8. REMant  12/12/2008 12:51 AM Report

      I've often thought that musicians should be heard and not seen, but I'll make an exception in this case. Indeed he should have been asked to tell a few more tales...

    9. bratschekind  12/11/2008 11:47 PM Report

      Charlie, thanks for having on Elliot Carter but what a missed opportunity! I love your show but I think you dropped the ball on this one. Most of the thirty minutes were spent on Levine and Barenboim gushing about Carter. I love those guys but Mr. Carter barely got a chance to talk. This is a man whose career has spanned the last eighty years. This is a man who knew Ives, Holst, Copland and Stravinsky to name a few. What an opportunity to mine this rich vein of information, not to mention the chance to ask him about his music, his working habits, etc. And then some of the questions that he was asked were so asinine, such as "What irritates you?" I hope you'll have him on again and this time take the opportunity to explore the knowledge of this fascinating man.