Michael Costa: England's First Conductor by John Goulden
Among the major changes that swept through the music industry during the mid-nineteenth century, one that has received little attention is how musical performances were managed and directed. Yet this was arguably the most radical change of all: from a loose control shared between the violin-leader, musical director and maestro al cembalo to a system of tight and unified control under a professional conductor-manager. This process brought with it not only baton conducting in its modern form, but also higher standards of training and discipline, a new orchestral lay-out and a more focused rehearsal regime. The resulting rise in standards of performance was arguably the greatest achievement of English music in the otherwise rather barren mid-Victorian period. The key figure in this process was Michael Costa, who built for himself unprecedented contractual powers and used his awesome personal authority to impose reform on the three main institutions of mid-Victorian music: the opera houses, the Philharmonic and the Sacred Harmonic Society. He was a central figure in the battles between the two rival opera houses, between the Philharmonic and the New Philharmonic, and between the venerable Ancient Concerts and the mass festival events of the Sacred Harmonic Society. Costa's uniquely powerful position in the operatic, symphonic and choral world and the rapidity with which he was forgotten after his death provide a fascinating insight into the politics and changing aesthetics of the Victorian musical world.-
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'This is a learned survey of how the conductor gained importance and control, and uses Costa as an exampleIt dissects his relationships with concert-giving organisations throughout the country'
- Christopher Morley, Birmingham Post
"This is an important and timely book."
Sir John Goulden retired in 2000 from a distinguished career in the British Diplomatic Service, during which he served as Ambassador to Turkey and Permanent Representative to Nato (1995-2000). On retirement he began to pursue his interest in the revolution in musical performance during the early nineteenth century and the role in this of the conductor and composer Michael Costa. He was awarded a PhD in musicology in 2012.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781472427175 |
| ISBN 10 | 1472427173 |
| Title | Michael Costa: England's First Conductor |
| Author | John Goulden |
| Series | Music In Nineteenth-Century Britain |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Year published | 2016-03-18 |
| Number of pages | 244 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |