Michael Costa: England's First Conductor - The Revolution in Musical Performance in England, 1830-1880 (Paperback)

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.

General

Imprint:	Routledge
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	Music in Nineteenth-Century Britain
Release date:	December 2019
First published:	2015
Authors:	John Goulden
Dimensions:	234 x 156mm (L x W)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	244
ISBN-13:	978-0-367-87939-6
Categories:	Books > Arts & Architecture > The arts: general issues > General Books > Arts & Architecture > Music > Western music, periods & styles > Romantic music (c 1830 to c 1900) Books > Music > Western music, periods & styles > Romantic music (c 1830 to c 1900) Promotions
LSN:	0-367-87939-5
Barcode:	9780367879396

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!