Berlioz: Volume One by Cairns David

Author:Cairns, David
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141991405
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2019-03-06T16:00:00+00:00

The possibility of a new opera house where French operas could be put on had long been canvassed, and in the summer and autumn of 1829 it was again in the air. In an article in the Débats on 6 November 1829 Castil-Blaze pointed out the absurdity of the government’s training young French composers for the lyric theatre and then denying them access to it. But once more it proved to be a mirage. Nothing more was heard, either, of the Société du Gymnase-Lyrique, an ambitious project for a new concert-giving body, offshoot of the Théâtre du Gymnase-Lyrique, which was announced the previous November and of which Berlioz was to have been orchestral manager-cum-librarian, responsible for choice of players, scores and orchestral parts, and hire of instruments.19

Quite apart from the artistic frustration, the financial consequence of getting nowhere was a constant drag and worry. He unburdened himself about it to his sister Nancy:20

I reflect often about having to depend on my parents. I’m over twenty-five, I work hard, and yet I don’t support myself. It’s because I’m in a false position. I was not brought up for an artistic career; my parents opposed it and gave way only when I persisted. Not having been trained from an early age, I didn’t acquire a performing skill by which I could have earned my living until the time when my compositions brought me enough. All the young composers I know have this advantage. And then, the prolonged opposition I had to face put me back a good three years; I would have had that wretched Institute prize two years ago if I’d been able to prepare for it sooner. But when my father opposed my taking up music he thought that it was only a passing fancy, a hare-brained young man’s obstinate fantasy, and that I was not destined to shine at it, in short that in no way was it the right thing for me, and that with patience it would be possible to overcome my ideas and turn them in another direction. Experience proved to him the contrary, but it was very damaging to me. For it is obvious that if instead of trying to stop me and depriving me of the means of getting on fast, my father had done everything in his power to help me along, my lot would be better. But he thought he acted for the best, and indeed was prompted to it by his love for me. I have never doubted that. It’s terrible to think that parents’ love can have such bad and sometimes disastrous consequences for their children. The reason is that they hardly ever have a really thorough knowledge of their children’s character; and children are marked so deeply by the impressions of their upbringing, which prevent them from talking to their parents as one talks to one’s intimate friends. But it’s the only way you can reveal yourself as you are.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.