The book starts off with an episode of a Japanese student in Paris who made this
statement in front of his friends. “All of those guys eating here at the
university cafeteria will never understand the Marcel Proust.”
Proust, the author of “In Search of Lost Time” was from a wealthy family who never had to suffer from poverty or hunger. He himself was also a wealthy man, who was said to have spent a large amount of money in a single night. The author of the book “Classical Music as the Greatest Luxury” states that you wouldn’t understand Proust’s feeling if you are the type of person who gets filled up with the food you eat at a school cafeteria.
Mozart and Beethoven were said to be the type of people who, even in financial difficulties, kept leading luxurious lives.
The point here is “Don’t think everyone is equal. Don’t even think an art can be understood equally by every group of people.” The author states that this may lead to a misunderstanding but it is a truth anybody hesitates to say openly.
The author extendedly states Japan had to be luxurious people but far from truly appreciating classical music, such as Beethoven or Mozart. He even says something fundamental is missing in the music the Japanese create. Even NHK symphony sounds "fishy."
There were times when they were seemingly rich and luxurious, but it was not a true richness. The Roppongi Hills, the status symbol of the riches in that country, had not produced any more true riches than the huge waste of garbage. Nothing beautiful or precious had been created throughout the period.
The author decides to take off the country to travel to multiple cities of overseas.
Chapter 1: Hong Kong, China
The first place he chose is Hong Kong, where he sees the people, stores, streets, and concert halls. He concludes that the music was fishy because of the streets outside the hall that were filled with smells, humid air, and sweating people, whereas the concert hall was kept so clean without allowing any bugs, noise, or smells inside. He states “Brahms in Hong Kong” is as fishy as when you see an ad such as “Beethoven in Tokyo.” No matter how passionate they are about classical music, they are out of it.
I think I can understand what he is talking about. Although I have never been to Hong Kong or anywhere in China, as far as Japan is concerned, I don’t feel the people who push others and rush to the narrow gate of a train station would ever be able to understand Bruckner’s symphonies. The same is true with those who can’t wait to share a space or say a word or two in a shopping center or on the trains.
Chapter 2: Vienna, Austria
Vienna is one of the notable cities of music. If you are fond of classical music, the city of Vienna might come up to your mind in the first place. The author introduces Vienna as the place of double standards just like the both sides of a coin. He states there are always “praises” and “betrayals” in that city. Here in the city of Vienna he decides to speak English instead of German, since he thinks it should be more comfortable to be treated as an outsider. He wants to avoid any local frustration out there but just focus on music.
The author introduces the concert hall of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra by explaining that the hall is not really good when it comes to terms with the sound effect. It may sometimes make a miraculous blend of sound when you least expect it, but he states it is not a product of what the designers had wanted.
The author then writes about Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He thinks this orchestra often doesn’t do its best to perform music. It is a very popular orchestra. You cannot get a ticket easily for their concert. They sometimes do poor performance. However, the author admits their music, like their concert hall, can be incredibly passionate and vivid when least expected. That music is what you could never be able to hear from other orchestras.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Proust, the author of “In Search of Lost Time” was from a wealthy family who never had to suffer from poverty or hunger. He himself was also a wealthy man, who was said to have spent a large amount of money in a single night. The author of the book “Classical Music as the Greatest Luxury” states that you wouldn’t understand Proust’s feeling if you are the type of person who gets filled up with the food you eat at a school cafeteria.
Mozart and Beethoven were said to be the type of people who, even in financial difficulties, kept leading luxurious lives.
The point here is “Don’t think everyone is equal. Don’t even think an art can be understood equally by every group of people.” The author states that this may lead to a misunderstanding but it is a truth anybody hesitates to say openly.
The author extendedly states Japan had to be luxurious people but far from truly appreciating classical music, such as Beethoven or Mozart. He even says something fundamental is missing in the music the Japanese create. Even NHK symphony sounds "fishy."
There were times when they were seemingly rich and luxurious, but it was not a true richness. The Roppongi Hills, the status symbol of the riches in that country, had not produced any more true riches than the huge waste of garbage. Nothing beautiful or precious had been created throughout the period.
The author decides to take off the country to travel to multiple cities of overseas.
Chapter 1: Hong Kong, China
The first place he chose is Hong Kong, where he sees the people, stores, streets, and concert halls. He concludes that the music was fishy because of the streets outside the hall that were filled with smells, humid air, and sweating people, whereas the concert hall was kept so clean without allowing any bugs, noise, or smells inside. He states “Brahms in Hong Kong” is as fishy as when you see an ad such as “Beethoven in Tokyo.” No matter how passionate they are about classical music, they are out of it.
I think I can understand what he is talking about. Although I have never been to Hong Kong or anywhere in China, as far as Japan is concerned, I don’t feel the people who push others and rush to the narrow gate of a train station would ever be able to understand Bruckner’s symphonies. The same is true with those who can’t wait to share a space or say a word or two in a shopping center or on the trains.
Chapter 2: Vienna, Austria
Vienna is one of the notable cities of music. If you are fond of classical music, the city of Vienna might come up to your mind in the first place. The author introduces Vienna as the place of double standards just like the both sides of a coin. He states there are always “praises” and “betrayals” in that city. Here in the city of Vienna he decides to speak English instead of German, since he thinks it should be more comfortable to be treated as an outsider. He wants to avoid any local frustration out there but just focus on music.
The author introduces the concert hall of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra by explaining that the hall is not really good when it comes to terms with the sound effect. It may sometimes make a miraculous blend of sound when you least expect it, but he states it is not a product of what the designers had wanted.
The author then writes about Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He thinks this orchestra often doesn’t do its best to perform music. It is a very popular orchestra. You cannot get a ticket easily for their concert. They sometimes do poor performance. However, the author admits their music, like their concert hall, can be incredibly passionate and vivid when least expected. That music is what you could never be able to hear from other orchestras.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
