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"Day of Carter" with Members of the New York Philharmonic: Kaplan Penthouse, New York City, 13.12.2008 (BH)

Lucy Shelton, Soprano
Stanley Drucker, Clarinet
Jon Deak, Bass
Lisa Kim, Violin
Kuan-Cheng Lu, Violin
Irene Breslaw, Viola
Eileen Moon, Cello

Elliott Carter in Conversation with Matías Tarnopolsky
Elliott Carter and Steven Stucky in Conversation (film)
Carter: Poems of Louis Zukofsky for Soprano and Clarinet (2008; World Premiere)
Carter: Figment III for solo double bass (2007)
Carter: Clarinet Quintet (2007)


In this final "after party" celebrating the centennial of Elliott Carter, the relaxed atmosphere in the Kaplan Penthouse seemed to produce more hilarity than usual.  Under the auspices of the New York Philharmonic, the core of the program was yet another world premiere, Poems of Louis Zukofsky for soprano and clarinet, with the peerless Lucy Shelton and Stanley Drucker.  When Carter was quizzed about what advice to give them in performing the piece, he replied as if talking to an eight-year-old, "Follow the directions!"

The four poems, written by the father of violinist Paul Zukofsky, range from the austere "Finally a Valentine" to the beatific finale, "You Who Were Made for This Music."  In between come the slow, sustained "O Sleep" and the scampering "Daisy."  With Shelton and Drucker in outstanding form, it would be hard to imagine a more alert and emotional reading, even after this first encounter.  And to anyone who still finds no beauty in Carter's output, I would point to the rapturous ending, with Drucker and Shelton positively radiant in these lines:

Or so pride loving itself looks
to more fortunate glory, with a power
apart from the trembling sense
Only glory restores.

Two works from 2007 provided some perspective—if nothing more, reconfirming the high quality of Carter's late output.  Bassist Jon Deak had a fun time with the extreme contrasts of Figment III.  Low rumblings contrast with the highest notes possible on the instrument.  Then came the Clarinet Quintet led by the peerless Stanley Drucker, soon to be retiring after an extraordinary 61-year career with the orchestra.  The mercurial clarinet part dives in and out of strings, played with finesse by Lisa Kim and Kuan-Chen Lu (violins), Irene Breslaw (viola) and Eileen Moon (cello).  Aside from a slightly ragged ending—chalk it up to the excitement of the day—the playing only reconfirmed the expertise of the musicians and increased the desire to hear them in more intimate repertoire.

Prior to the music came a live interview with the composer by Matías Tanopolsky, Lincoln Center's Vice President for Artistic Planning, who seemed to bring out the best in the loquacious and affable composer—one of the best of the many conversations to appear in this extraordinary anniversary year.

Bruce Hodges


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