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Beethoven’s Fifth gets a salsa beat

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norman lebrecht

March 16, 2015

Not sure what point they’re making.

It’s the work of a Norwegian composer, Sverre Indris Joner.

Comments

Chris says:

March 16, 2015 at 6:39 pm

Nonsense – and five years ago.

Max Grimm says:

March 16, 2015 at 6:59 pm

Well, I prefer my Beethoven without the Salsa infusion and vice versa. This reminds me too much of the guff somebody like Mark O’Connor might come up with.

Patrick says:

March 16, 2015 at 9:31 pm

The “point” is that the audience liked it, it was based on something a classical composer wrote, and offers an approach to engagement that just might address the plight of orchestras like Pittsburg who have sold only 57% of their seats.

Alex says:

March 17, 2015 at 6:44 am

Its very simple:

Dudamel + Simon Bolivar orch play Bernsteins Mambo like a Salsa band and get wOrldwide attention, therefore salsa must be what audiences want.

The adoption of “Dudamel” or “El Sistema” repertoire worldwide is honestly an insult to the music of revueltas/marquez/etc. Its a “sugarcoated pops” strategy which, needless to say, fails due to its lack of depth.