“First there was the book. Now there is the festival,” writes Rosalyn Sulcas Tuesday (11/27) on the New York Times/International Herald Tribune blog IHT Rendezvous. “The Southbank Centre announced the details Tuesday morning of The Rest Is Noise, a year-long festival of 20th-century music inspired by Alex Ross’s 2007 book of the same name. Mr. Ross, a music critic for The New Yorker magazine, won considerable acclaim for ‘The Rest Is Noise,’ a sweeping survey of 20th-century classical music. ‘When I read the book in its proof form, I called up Alex Ross right away,’ said Jude Kelly, the artistic director of the Southbank Centre, speaking to journalists and music professionals at the press launch. ‘I said, let me stage this.’ … The ambitious plan is to survey 20th-century music and arts chronologically. Twelve intensive weekend programs throughout 2013 will aim to contextualize the music through talks, workshops and films.’ … Ms. Kelly said that she hoped to give audiences the chance not just to discover and explore 20th-century music, but to link the music to ‘the history of science, technology, philosophical and political movements,’ and to ‘the ideas and individuals that shaped the 20th century and the music that was its soundtrack.’ ”
Posted November 28, 2012
