The Friday Informer: We Can't Go Back, We've Come Too Far

The Friday Informer: We Can’t Go Back, We’ve Come Too Far

Oh, Mr. Holland, you’ve outdone yourself!

Written By

Molly Sheridan

Comic of the Week: Strauss and Mahler in The Ten Commandments


Soho the Dog is back at it again this week with possibly his best “Strauss and Mahler Re-enact Your Favorite Movie Moments” yet. Read the whole thing.

I suspect many Americans become hysterical when reading the national news these days, but while perusing the arts section? Oh, Mr. Holland, you’ve outdone yourself this week—they could hear the teeth-gnashing all the way in London. Don’t take it personally; I’m sure there are those who agree with you, but please realize that for many of us in the crowd, we can’t go back—we’ve come too far.

Getting this far wasn’t always easy and the road was often circuitous. Still, you can tell when you’ve hit the big leagues based on the level of composerly company that you keep.

Conducting company is another matter entirely however, though Mensa can apparently help you out there. Sure, sometimes you get a little naked ambition brewing and want to see something new on the podium—a fresh face maybe, or a slightly menacing Star Wars-ish one. Well, someone has to send in the clowns and cue the bats.

And ohmygod, did you hear? Juan Diego Flórez can sing a million high C’s. Terry Riley is not impressed.

Okay, actually I have no idea what Terry thinks about it, but I do know that 50 Cent is perplexed by Alicia Keys continued preference for classical music over gangsta rap. Dear Mr. Cent, if we are doing our best to not look down on non-classical music as unimportant populist pap, don’t you think you might meet us half way, just to be polite? We’ve heard that classical music makes you smarter, and right now we need all the help we can get. Our kids are so dumb they can neither spell properly nor sing Andrew Lloyd Weber‘s greatest hits on national television. Truly I say unto you, we are doomed.