Music Chat: My Calamitous Henze Incident 

That's fantastic! Henze as I got to know him. His incredible vanity inspired the german author (and librettist of Henze) Hans Ulrich Treichl for his novel "Tristanakkord". Henze was communist (a real communist, not a socialist), he adored Fidel Castro (as many european artists did), but lived in a castle-like villa near Rome. You can find pictures. I asked him, if this isn't a treason of his left-wing believes. He answered: A communist in a Rolls-Royce is better than a fascist in a tank. What a vain person! Your answer was perfect! Penderecki - HE was a real great man!

I had my own confrontation with Henze by helping to spoil what may have been the premiere of Henze's Third Violin Concerto in 1996. My friend (who I won't drop in it) and I attended a concert in the Berlin Schauspielhaus. I think it was Dvorak after the break, so we decided to sit out the Henze (not my cup of tea, but I guessed I might be positively surprised). At one point after what felt like an eternity of bleeps and boinks the violinist made a dramatic gesture, which we (not just the two of us, mind you) interpreted as the end of the piece. So we started applauding, only to be met by vicious stares from violinist and conductor. Clearly, this particular masterpiece had not yet reached its end. To make matters (considerably) worse, we were sat behind the orchestra in the choir benches, and therefore in direct view of the conductor but more significantly the TV cameras that recorded the performance. After recoveringt their composure, everyone continued the performance. We decided to make for the exit at the first possible opportunity and forego the Dvorak.

Your reply letter was extremely diplomatic - except for that last part ! ha ha But if Henze was a sensible, decent human being then he would have enjoyed your frankness and gotten a good laugh.

Unlike the plausibly debatable truth in Samuel Langhorne Clemens' tongue-in-cheek comment about Wagner's music being "better than it sounds," Henze's music is irrefutably more woeful and forgettable than it sounds - on just about every level (it has already been left by the wayside just 12 years after his death!) - but the MAN himself far exceeded the atrocious unsavoriness of his own "creations." If Sir Thomas Beecham would had been alive today, he would have surely "trod in" some Henze!

A lot of people seem to loathe Henze's music. I certainly find his Cuban communist period simultaneously arid and pretentious, but some of the first works he wrote in Italy are worth hearing. His opera Der Junge Lord, his ballet Undine, Symphonies 1, 3, 5 and 8, a couple of the soprano cantatas, his Double Concerto for Heinz and Ursula Holliger - I would not disregard them. As for his personality, I can well imagine that letter having the same effect on anyone, but it doesn't matter now. John Cage was reportedly a fascinating man whose music is meh, Lutoslawski was cold and rude but his music is great. Weird how that happens.

Your last paragraph to Henze was unnecessary....and delicious!

I personally have been very fortunate in that my own music has been performed by the London Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, San Francisco and a few other amazing groups and conductors who like what I have to offer. Although this kind of thing happens irregularly, it’s better than nothing. And unlike Henze, I try to keep my humility intact. No idea if being humble helps or hurts one’s career, but that’s my cross to bare. Great video as always, David!

Just delicious, Dave! Sometime you'll have to do a video about our correspondence with George Walker!

While arrogant and boorish behavior are always to be deplored, it must also be said that the world of musicmaking is no place for shrinking violets. Even the most talented figure, in music and elsewhere, will not accomplish much without a very pronounced ego. To speak just of composers, if we assemble a list of the several dozen greatest of them, we would soon have to face the fact that, considering how many liars, cheaters, backstabbers, adulterers, philanderers, racists, sexists, and fascists are among them, they are, by and large, a pretty bad lot. We wouldn't want most of them as friends. Ultimately, it's the music that matters, right? Also, for what it's worth, when I was a music student, Penderecki condescended to pay my school an hour-long visit, and struck me as a rude, arrogant jerk. He had little to say, and we spent most of the time listening to the recently-released recording of his endlessly dreary First Violin Concerto, which is possibly the most boring item in my record collection. Henze's quasi-adolescent political posturing was indeed silly and annoying, but he eventually abandoned most of it and managed to admit, in his memoirs, that his belief in and hopes for Castro's Cuba turned out to be delusional. He wrote his share of clunkers but also a lot of strong, impressive, even beautiful works. For me, repeated listening proves Henze to be a much better composer than Penderecki. His best work is of greater substance and durability while we'll always be able to check out Penderecki if we watch The Shining.

Amazing hilarious story. Tried to listen to him, as every magazine wrote how wonderful and important his music is, especially in the 90s, but i gave up, it was boring and devoid of anything original that would stick in the mind. And indeed, his music seems to have vanished ..

This was a very amusing story. Possibly one of my fave videos of yours on here!

What a jaw dropping vid....amazing story.Made my afternoon.

Why has my earlier comment been deleted?

I filmed Henze in Julian Bream's house. The humourous part was Henze referring to the 'Gold Discs' on the wall, and JB revealing with a twinkle, that he had wondered what the gold LP actually was. He had retrieved one from its case and found that the grooves actually produced music on his player. I forget if it was the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, but Henze collapsed with laughter, as did we all.

Brilliant! That was entertaining!

There have been many interesting works in the twentieth century, but for me, 2 composers dominate this century: Henze and Ligeti. Henze was the most gifted composer of his time, leaving an immense catalog and an impressive number of works of the highest quality. He was a musician who wrote in all styles with extraordinary ease. In fact, all the characteristics of a genius! Unfortunately, I can't think of any composer today who even remotely matches his level.

William Walton was a mentor to the young Henze when he first went to Italy in the 50s. Susana Walton in 'Behind the Facade' comments on seeing Henze at the height of of his 'Cuban' period with his entourage.

As I catch up with your past video's, Dave, I found this one very funny! Reminded me of behaviors of some artists I have known personally, too. And, reminded me of Wagner, who expected everyone to support him unflinchingly; even angrily writing to one he should have brought a box of fine wine with him to a dinner instead of drinking Wagner's' own swill! Then also writing to a young friend, whose father had just died, a letter beginning "So now you are rich", then asking for an enormous sum of money! Genius can forgive them, as some have referenced Britten here? Just not such lesser men; they merely look like buffoons.

Just seen this, great story!

I agree that much of his work will be forgotten, but allow me to mention three lovely pieces that rise above the grey, over-written mediocrity of most of his unself-critical output:1. Cantata della fiaba estrema 2. Nachtstücke und Arien and 3. Doppio Concerto for oboe and harp. These show what he was capable befor communism rotted his powers of judgement. (I also have time for The Bassarids, especially the second half.