On That Note

I’m barely getting any work done today, and if you’re a regular reader of this blog, that news will not shock you.

Lately I’ve been considering buying a recording of the Ring Cycle by Richard Wagner. This is a series of four operas he wrote in the 19th century; altogether they take up 14 or 15 CD’s, depending on the conductor. I’ve considered this on and off during the past four years or so, but so far I’ve never been able to bring myself to shell out around $150 for a complete recording. There’s no reason I’ll change my mind any time soon, given that I’m poor. But lately I’ve really wanted to own the recording conducted by Herbert von Karajan.

I’m not supposed to like Wagner, because I’m Jewish. And actually, I don’t like him or his music all that much. It doesn’t really click with me. I don’t tend to go for the big Romantic stuff, and I can never seem to get into big operatic voices. I seem to prefer music that is more structured, fresh and intellectual — the intertwined polyphony of Renaissance choral music. The stark innovation of Stravinsky’s neoclassical works. Bach fugues and such.

As for Wagner, I feel an ingrained aversion to the man and everything he stands for. Still, some of his music is great. The thing is, I really want to own the Ring Cycle and get to know it better. It’s supposed to be one of the pinnacles of Western musical culture, and I want to learn to like it and appreciate it.

When I was in college and law school I would spend way too much money on classical music CD’s that I’d listen to maybe once, if even that. I wanted to have complete sets of things for no other reason than to have them — Haydn’s piano trios, Mozart’s string quartets, complete operas, and so on. Fortunately, I’ve barely bought any CDs in the past year.

But someday… mwahahahaha.

Tonight I’m seeing a straight friend of mine in a musical called The Overdevelopment of Scott. I have no idea what it’s about. It’s one of those little-known New Yorky small-stage run-of-four-performances-type things. This city is filled with them.

Gosh… I need sleep.