Ned Rorem: A 70th Birthday Salute

Notes on the Program

The following conversation took place over a recent lunch with Ned Rorem at his home in New York. Michael Barrett (MB) and Steven Blier (SB) were the two guests. Mr. Rorem served quiche, fresh green salad, apricot tart (we called “gateaux”), croissants, yogurt and coffee.

NR: My favorite composers are Monteverdi and Poulenc. There are fout composers of modern France (since 1875). Debussy, Ravel, Messian and Poulenc. I like les petits maitres and I hate profond music, like German music.

MB: You hate it?

NR: No, I think it’s terribly condescending to say I hate it. Even Beethoven has some charm. Let’s say I don’t need it. I don’t need Schubert, while I concede his genius.

SB: What about Mozart?

NR: I like Mozart, yes, but the music I think counts most for us is the music of the last 75 years.

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