Robert Craft
Encyclopedia
Robert Lawson Craft is an American
conductor
and writer. He is best known for his intimate working friendship with Igor Stravinsky
, a relationship which resulted in a number of recordings and books.
and studied music at the Juilliard School
. He became particularly interested in early music
and the music of Claudio Monteverdi
and Heinrich Schütz
, and in contemporary music by the composers of the Second Viennese School
and others.
Craft met Stravinsky in 1948, and from then until the composer's death in 1971, Craft continued to work alongside Stravinsky in a variety of roles. A relationship that started as out with Craft in a rather modest role eventually evolved into a full artistic partnership. Craft compiled the libretti for Stravinsky's The Flood
and A Sermon, a Narrative and a Prayer, and lived with the Stravinsky family in California
and later in New York
. Craft continued to remain close to the composer's widow Vera until her death in 1982.
After Stravinsky's death, Craft continued to concertize and to write. His 2002 book, An Improbable Life, details his life before, during, and after his friendship with Stravinsky. The memoir
elaborates on the impact that Igor Stravinsky had on his life.
on a series of books that covered various musical and non-musical subjects: Conversations with Igor Stravinsky (N.Y., 1959); Memories and Commentaries (N.Y., 1960); Expositions and Developments (N.Y., 1962); Dialogues and a Diary (N.Y., 1963); Themes and Episodes (N.Y., 1967); Retrospectives and Conclusions (N.Y., 1969). They include transcribed conversations between the two men, interviews culled from various published sources, essays, diary entries, and the like, all with the professed aim of presenting Stravinsky's views on music and culture. There has been a great deal of controversy as to whether or not the books actually reflect Stravinsky's ideas; many feel that Craft's influence on the material is so strong as to make it impossible to determine how much of the material truly represents Stravinsky's views.
, Philadelphia
, Chicago, Cleveland
, San Francisco, Los Angeles
, St. Louis, and Minneapolis), as well as international engagements in Canada, Europe, Russia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. He is the first American to have conducted Alban Berg
's Wozzeck
and Lulu
. Craft also led the world premieres of Stravinsky's later masterpieces; Vom Himmel hoch, Agon, The Flood, Abraham and Isaac, Variations
, Introitus
, and Requiem Canticles
.
Besides recording virtually all of Stravinsky's music, Craft has conducted pioneering recordings of Schoenberg
, Varèse
, Webern
and other works of then contemporary composers. While not a flamboyant conductor, Craft is known for his technically and musically precise interpretations. Robert Craft is a two-time recipient of the Grand Prix du Disque, as well as the Edison Prize for his recordings of music by Varèse and Stravinsky. His recordings of the music of Stravinsky with the Orchestra of St. Luke's
were originally available on eleven now out-of-print releases from MusicMasters and seven volumes from Koch. Since early 2005, these recordings have been gradually re-released by Naxos Records
.
In 2002, Robert Craft was awarded the International Prix du Disque at the Cannes Music Festival.
He also translated and edited Stravinsky, Selected Correspondence (3 vols., N.Y., 1982, 1984, 1985).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and writer. He is best known for his intimate working friendship with Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
, a relationship which resulted in a number of recordings and books.
Life
Craft was born in Kingston, New YorkKingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
and studied music at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
. He became particularly interested in early music
Early music
Early music is generally understood as comprising all music from the earliest times up to the Renaissance. However, today this term has come to include "any music for which a historically appropriate style of performance must be reconstructed on the basis of surviving scores, treatises,...
and the music of Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, gambist, and singer.Monteverdi's work, often regarded as revolutionary, marked the transition from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque period. He developed two individual styles of composition – the...
and Heinrich Schütz
Heinrich Schütz
Heinrich Schütz was a German composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach and often considered to be one of the most important composers of the 17th century along with Claudio Monteverdi...
, and in contemporary music by the composers of the Second Viennese School
Second Viennese School
The Second Viennese School is the group of composers that comprised Arnold Schoenberg and his pupils and close associates in early 20th century Vienna, where he lived and taught, sporadically, between 1903 and 1925...
and others.
Craft met Stravinsky in 1948, and from then until the composer's death in 1971, Craft continued to work alongside Stravinsky in a variety of roles. A relationship that started as out with Craft in a rather modest role eventually evolved into a full artistic partnership. Craft compiled the libretti for Stravinsky's The Flood
The Flood (Stravinsky)
The Flood: A musical play is a short biblical drama by Igor Stravinsky on the allegory of Noah, originally written as an opera for television. CBS Television executive Alan Wagner commissioned the work...
and A Sermon, a Narrative and a Prayer, and lived with the Stravinsky family in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and later in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Craft continued to remain close to the composer's widow Vera until her death in 1982.
After Stravinsky's death, Craft continued to concertize and to write. His 2002 book, An Improbable Life, details his life before, during, and after his friendship with Stravinsky. The memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
elaborates on the impact that Igor Stravinsky had on his life.
Writing
Craft collaborated with StravinskyIgor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
on a series of books that covered various musical and non-musical subjects: Conversations with Igor Stravinsky (N.Y., 1959); Memories and Commentaries (N.Y., 1960); Expositions and Developments (N.Y., 1962); Dialogues and a Diary (N.Y., 1963); Themes and Episodes (N.Y., 1967); Retrospectives and Conclusions (N.Y., 1969). They include transcribed conversations between the two men, interviews culled from various published sources, essays, diary entries, and the like, all with the professed aim of presenting Stravinsky's views on music and culture. There has been a great deal of controversy as to whether or not the books actually reflect Stravinsky's ideas; many feel that Craft's influence on the material is so strong as to make it impossible to determine how much of the material truly represents Stravinsky's views.
Conducting
Craft is an award-winning conductor who has led most of the major orchestras in the United States: (New YorkNew York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, Philadelphia
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, Chicago, Cleveland
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
, San Francisco, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
, St. Louis, and Minneapolis), as well as international engagements in Canada, Europe, Russia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. He is the first American to have conducted Alban Berg
Alban Berg
Alban Maria Johannes Berg was an Austrian composer. He was a member of the Second Viennese School with Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern, and produced compositions that combined Mahlerian Romanticism with a personal adaptation of Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique.-Early life:Berg was born in...
's Wozzeck
Wozzeck
Wozzeck is the first opera by the Austrian composer Alban Berg. It was composed between 1914 and 1922 and first performed in 1925. The opera is based on the drama Woyzeck left incomplete by the German playwright Georg Büchner at his death. Berg attended the first production in Vienna of Büchner's...
and Lulu
Lulu (opera)
Lulu is an opera by the composer Alban Berg. The libretto was adapted by Berg himself from Frank Wedekind's plays Erdgeist and Die Büchse der Pandora .-Composition history:...
. Craft also led the world premieres of Stravinsky's later masterpieces; Vom Himmel hoch, Agon, The Flood, Abraham and Isaac, Variations
Variations (Stravinsky)
Variations: Aldous Huxley in memoriam is Igor Stravinsky's last orchestral composition, written in 1963–64.-History:Stravinsky began work on the Variations in Santa Fé, New Mexico in July 1963, and completed the composition in Hollywood, California on 28 October 1964...
, Introitus
Introitus
The introitus is an entrance that goes into a canal or hollow organ. Introitus is another name for the vaginal orifice.Introitus has also been used for classifying uterine prolapse:*1st degree prolapse: cervix is in the vagina...
, and Requiem Canticles
Requiem Canticles
Requiem Canticles is a 15 minute composition by Igor Stravinsky, for contralto and bass soli, chorus, and orchestra. Stravinsky completed the work in 1966, and it received its first performance that same year....
.
Besides recording virtually all of Stravinsky's music, Craft has conducted pioneering recordings of Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
, Varèse
Edgard Varèse
Edgard Victor Achille Charles Varèse, , whose name was also spelled Edgar Varèse , was an innovative French-born composer who spent the greater part of his career in the United States....
, Webern
Anton Webern
Anton Webern was an Austrian composer and conductor. He was a member of the Second Viennese School. As a student and significant follower of Arnold Schoenberg, he became one of the best-known exponents of the twelve-tone technique; in addition, his innovations regarding schematic organization of...
and other works of then contemporary composers. While not a flamboyant conductor, Craft is known for his technically and musically precise interpretations. Robert Craft is a two-time recipient of the Grand Prix du Disque, as well as the Edison Prize for his recordings of music by Varèse and Stravinsky. His recordings of the music of Stravinsky with the Orchestra of St. Luke's
Orchestra of St. Luke's
The Orchestra of St. Luke's is an American chamber orchestra based in New York City.It was founded in the summer of 1979 at the Caramoor International Music Festival in Katonah, New York....
were originally available on eleven now out-of-print releases from MusicMasters and seven volumes from Koch. Since early 2005, these recordings have been gradually re-released by Naxos Records
Naxos Records
Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
.
Legacy
Craft has his own legacy. He has remained in a vanguard position in relation to 20th century art music throughout his life as a conductor and musicologist. Besides working closely with one of the greats from the 20th century, Craft has produced volumes of academic and personal writings on Stravinsky and on other composers.In 2002, Robert Craft was awarded the International Prix du Disque at the Cannes Music Festival.
Publications
Robert Craft’s publications include:- Prejudices in Disguise (N.Y., 1974)
- Stravinsky in Photographs and Documents (with Vera Stravinsky; London, 1976; N.Y., 1978)
- Current Convictions: Views and Reviews (N. Y., 1977)
- Present Perspectives (N.Y., 1984)
- Stravinsky: Glimpses of a Life (N.Y., 1992)
- Stravinsky: Chronicle of a Friendship (Nashville, 1994)
- Down a Path of Wonder (Norfolk, UK, 2006)
He also translated and edited Stravinsky, Selected Correspondence (3 vols., N.Y., 1982, 1984, 1985).