The first since Menuhin
NewsSir John Eliot Gardiner has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest.
The university president Dr. Andrea Vigh said: ‘Sir John Eliot Gardiner is a genuine and outstanding representative of the international
music scene, whose professional achievements have been the subject of intense attention for decades. He is an iconic figure in both the research and the production of historically informed performance.’ She added that the institution gives this honour only exceptionally, with renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin being the last awardee 20 years ago.
No denying his achievements and the value of the honour is underlined by the Academy issuing such doctorates only very rarely.
Nevertheless, I subscribe to Richard Feynman’s view of honorary doctorates.
‘It is like giving an “honorary electrician’s license.”’
‘It is like giving an “honorary electrician’s license.”’
Agreed. They are intellectually dishonest, which was the underlying reason for Feyman’s own distaste of them.
I wonder if Brahms knew this?
So, are they saying that apart from JEG there have been no outstanding people for the last 20 years?
Hungarian institutions have now awarded a doctorate to trump acolyte and fascist wannabe sebastian gorka, without the benefit of an actual academic committee meeting for the thesis defense, and an honorary doctorate to JEG whose deep research into authentic music practices has resulted in countless uninspired concerts. The former was predictable in modern day Hungary but the latter is a stain on nearly a century of classical music education excellence. Fortunately no punches were thrown.
What the hell is Jiggy holding??!!
Looks to me they gave him the bottom end of a bassoon to fix.
Good one, Barry!
Or goulash from a thermos.
I may be wrong but I had understood that David Titterington had received an honorary doctorate from the Liszt Academy. I could be mistaken!
Gardiner is one of the most consequential conductors/musicians of the last 50 years. A well deserved award. Many congratulations to him.
I would have expected Harnoncourt in between?
What a good fellow V Orban is! Really Johnny G …
The people of Hungary obviously think so.
Was Menuhin the last person to beat up a musician?
Unlikely. He had enough trouble trying to open his own yoghurt pots — the pots usually won.
Maybe that’s one of the few places he could find real culture.
Retired horn player here. Spent a most unpleasant week with JEG on the podium years ago. A truly nasty man who set a speed record with his reading of Schumann’s Spring Symphony.
This is what I’ve heard too – from one singer hired by him.
Knowing him, he’ll ask people to start addressing him as Dr now
You mean DDDDr? According to wikipedia, he has already received 3 honorary doctorates, starting with the University of Lyon in 1987.