Alfred Schnittke (public domain photo)
Ethan Iverson recently interviewed Alex Ross, the New York music critic. The whole thing is worth reading, but I found it particularly valuable because Ross explains where to start in listening to Alfred Schnittke's music. I wish I ran cross this sort of thing more often, as it can be helpful to know where to start with an unfamiliar composer. Here is the relevant part of the exchange:
Iverson: I’m surprised that Schnittke is not a little more in the conversation today, because his best work is so strong.
Ross: Yeah, certain pieces are played, but he’s been somewhat pushed aside. You hear more Pärt, Gubaidulina, Silvestrov, others of that generation. Partly, it may have to do with the fact that he died fairly young and his legacy was in some disarray at the end. Some pieces—the First Symphony, the Piano Concerto, the String Trio, the string quartets—are very powerful. A lot of other pieces feel somewhat cobbled together.
There is more on Schnittke at the link.
