Robert Roper's biography of Everest climber and professor of philosophy Willi Unsoeld contains the following thought-provoking quote from the great mountaineer: "In the Outward Bound programs parents would ask us, 'Can you guarantee the safety of our Johnny?' And our response would usually be, 'No, we certainly can't , ma'am. Fact is we go the other way and and guarantee you the genuine possibility of his death . And if we could guarantee his safety, the program wouldn't be worth running - do you see?'" This important wisdom can be paraphrased as follows: "Concertgoers would ask the music director, "Can you guarantee I will like everything in your program?" And the music director should reply, 'No, we certainly can't , ma'am. Fact is we go the other way and and guarantee you the genuine possibility that you will hate at least one work. And if we could guarantee you will like everything, the concert would not be wort...
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A very interesting read - I can't imagine such a level of debate taking place today. We never hear music from Nicolas Maw, hardly any Harrison Birtwistle or even Michael Tippett on the radio anymore - the curse of the dead modernist composer, or just too darned demanding?