On 9/22/2014 6:43 PM, Tom Fine wrote:
> These articles back up what I said, Mahler was plenty performed and
> talked about in his time, after his time and throughout the years hence.
> He was out of circulation briefly due to Nazis, and only in occupied
> countries, but then more than "revived" to a cult-like frenzy in this
> country.
I suspect that his brief eclipse post-WWII had more to do with
Toscanini's dislike of his music than anything else. Toscanini was very
much the tastemaker in American classical music during those years.
I remember growing up in a classical-music-loving household in the
1950s, and I never heard Mahler's name -- not once -- until Columbia
began issuing Bernstein's cycle in the 1960s. Of course, our family's
neglect may have had to do with my Grandpa George; I need to ask my dad,
but I don't think Grandpa George liked Mahler either. Of course, he took
his cues from Toscanini, almost exclusively.
It would be interesting for someone to do a survey of classical radio
stations' program guides as an indicator of mass tastes during that
period; the major classical stations published program guides listing
what pieces would be played. I remember poring over the ones from WFMT
and WEFM in Chicago. If I saw any Mahler I don't recall it.
Anyway it might be an instructive study. Anyone know a PhD candidate in
need of a dissertation topic?
Peace,
Paul
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