Glenn Lowry is the director of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, which boasts a collection of more than 150,000 works. Its library and archives represent more than 70,000 artists. A passionate music-lover, Lowry reveals to host Gilbert Kaplan:
— His favorite opera is Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
— That given any spare time, “I’d go to the opera.”
— The “greatest music” is the duet from Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers.
— How musicians and visual artists can inspire each other.
— Risk-taking in reinterpreting classics should be encouraged.
— How Janet Cardiff’s musical sculpture was inspired by Thomas Tallis’ work.
Playlist:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Don Giovanni, Overture. Philharmonia Orchestra. Carlo Maria Giulini. EMI 5 67873.
Thomas Tallis: Spem in alium. The Sixteen. Harry Christophers. CORSACD 16016.
Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 [excerpt]. New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Leonard Bernstein. Glenn Gould, piano. Sony Classical 60675.
Nick Drake: “River Man.” Universal-Island 842915.
Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser, Overture [excerpt]. Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin. Daniel Barenboim. Teldec 8573-88064-2. “O du mein holder Abendstern” [“Song to the Evening Star”]. Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. James Levine. Bryn Terfel, baritone. Deutsche Grammophon 445866.
George Bizet: The Pearl Fishers [excerpt]. RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra. Renato Cellini. Jussi Björling, tenor; Robert Merrill, baritone. BMG Classics 7799.
