It's too bad we're still debating value of pop vs classical rather than appreciating music on its own merits

Last night, I dropped in on a private preview of some music that is coming to town next season. It was a fascinating experience for me, on several levels. But one thing stood out: The composer's embarassment over musical style.

The composer should have been able to stand up in front of a roomful of Toronto arts patrons and say, Ladies and gentlemen, you are about to hear excerpts from one of the most emotionally challenging rock operas ever written.

As a listener, I should have been able to listen and come to my personal choice of liking or disliking based on that.

Instead, the work is being called an oratorio, and the composer apologised several times for the music's accessible style, because he wanted it to be considered as something serious.

I felt sorry that we live in a culture where something "popular" can't be considered by many critics as an aesthetic equal to something "serious." This is very well crafted music, just not art music. Does this make it less worthy of praise or consideration or enjoyment? No. But the point of contention lingers, especially in the world of opera -- and it's not about to go away anytime soon.

(I'll have plenty more to wite about last night's work next season.)

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On a related but very different note, here is experimental Vancouver violinist Suzka having some fun with Vivaldi (sorry -- the piece cuts off abruptly at the end):