The New York Times, June 17, 2010
Back from a brilliant but brief trek into the Rocky Mountains, I'm confronted with a colossus (or, as a Times headline writer put it, a juggernaut) of another kind. I confess that I'm bracing myself for the displeasure of Eric Whitacre's many, many, many fans.
I really do think Whitacre's choral music is terrific. I also found a lot to like about his musical -- not surprising, really, for someone who still spends too much money on superhero comics, has a better-than-working knowledge of manga and owns all of Depeche Mode's albums. I paid money to see Gary Numan when I was in high school and Berlin during college; I'm not afraid to own it.
I think those points come through in what I wrote. Still, by suggesting that this setting might not have been the optimal way to showcase 425 choral singers who came from around the world to participate, I figure I'm courting the ire of Whitacre's most passionate fans.
One last thought: I regretted not having enough space to mention any of the solo singers apart from Hila Plitmann. They were Damon Kirsche (Logos), Doug Kreeger (Ignis), Daniel Tatar (Fervio), Sara Jean Ward (Pieta), Marie Wallace (Aia) and Rodolfo Nieto (Gravitas), and they were terrific.
Comments