For those who couldn't get to Tanglewood for this summer's slew of Elliott Carter concerts, the next best thing is available: over five hours of music were videotaped and are available free, online here. (My thanks to Carter expert Joe Barron for the link.)
There is some electrifying stuff, including the Variations for Orchestra (1955) with Stefan Asbury at the helm, who also leads the world premiere of Sound Fields (2007). Oliver Knussen is on hand for the Concerto for Orchestra (1969), and Erik Nielsen conducts the Clarinet Concerto (1996) with soloist Thomas Martin. Ursula Oppens is at the piano for Matribute (2007) and Night Fantasies (1980), and also appears with Charles Rosen in the Double Concerto for Piano and Harpsichord (1961).
And there's much more: interviews with John Harbison, Jo Ellen Miller, Lucy Shelton and others, with additional documentary and behind-the-scenes footage.
But star power aside, perhaps most inspiring is seeing the polish and enthusiasm of the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, whose young musicians seem completely unfazed and utterly energized by Carter's scores. It's getting to be old news by now, but it's a new era.
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