This is the conclusion of a four part interview with Thomas Hampson, one of America's great baritones, held in Los Angeles on January 11, 2012.
A pre-eminent Mahler interpreter, Hampson recently performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, in Mahler's Songs of a Wayfarer, with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic on January 13-15. On our premier classical music radio station, KUSC 91.5 FM, Hampson was radio host on his 13-week radio series, Song of America. The final show aired on Jan. 21, 2012.
An elequently spoken artist, Hampson is admired and known as one of opera's leading baritones, regularly performing internationally with all the major opera houses and orchestra of the world. However, this multi-faceted arist is much more than one of opera's great stars and recording artists.
He is also an educational visionary with a vast knowledge of the wide range of music he performs. His decades long involvement as an advocate for American poets and composers translates into his recital programs, and the concept he calls "the diary of America, through song". As an educational visionary, he has created educational programs that have gone on tours, heard in Library of Congress programs by teachers, and are available via his interactive website, www.SongofAmerica.net.
These are the final excerpts of this fascinating conversation.
Tell us about your new syndicated radio program, Song America, that audiences have heard across America, which recently aired in Los Angeles, on our classical music station, KUSC 91.5?
Song of America program, which is now on syndicated with WMFT Chicago, is now also on KUSC 91.5 FM, here in Los Angeles, every Saturday night at 8 pm, ending Jan. 21, 2012. It is 13-weeks of programs with Thomas Hampson, yours truly, taking you by the hand thru whatever. Whether its protest songs, or Langston huges, or Walt Whitman…
The Song of America,net, is a very interactive website, as is Hampsong.org. Both have some amazing links and resources. Is this geared for elementary school kids and teachers, or college aged people?
Well, I think I'll need to get someone to break down entry points for high school and younger people. What I’m really after is Generation X!
I want that 28 year old, or maybe that venture capitalists, who has been dragged to a concert, who says: "How did I miss that when I went to school"? So for now, the writing and emphasis on those two websites is probably more for the folks that have got their hats on, then necessarily entry level.
Its a fun and richly rewarding website. Please continue about it's impact in education.
This thing has got so much potential. If I weren’t singing 110 concerts a season!
Hampson lets out a rich baritone laughter, and relaxed for a moment, and continues: When we did the tours - Library of Congress tours – in 2005, 2006, and big one in 2009, we had seminars for history teachers. So much music taken out of school, and we got a lot of traction on that. So much music taken out of schools today, but you can do 15 minutes of history class, thru these programs.
That would be great, since there is so little music now in public schools. With your Song of America website and programs, kids can hear songs that they may not know. I imagine that these programs are not just pop songs, as such – they are Art songs, right?
Let’s get rid of that word, Art song. Rather, Classic Song, is what I call it. And this is a very important point, so, thanks for reminding me.
My world of expertise is poetry set to music. The grey area is folk song. Song of America, is not the American song book, this isn’t about Cole porter. (I love these guys. I love them all). It’s very much about this world of poetry. If you think about classic song, it is one of the most exciting art forms that I know, because it is probably the only art form that is born of two separate art forms.
And this idea, of prima la music – or prima la parola – is a question that doesn’t need to be asked, and certainly the answer, is wrong.
Because a poem when set to music, is no longer the poem of itself. It is in a dialogue with the music, to create another level of awareness.
I see any song, as an endless world of metaphor that only becomes reality, in how the listener appreciates it.
And ergo all this website stuff, is about Audience development. So that they know what they’re listening to! How does Samuel Barber talk, when he was talking music, what is a James Steven song…
There are not that many recitals, to go to. We don’t see that many song recitals given by great artists today, though next week you’re touring with your recital of American Songs. But generally there are few recitals to go to these days.
The recital repertoire is under a lot of pressure.
I mean, where is the audience for recitals these days?
That’s true.
So I hope that your website, Song of America will change that. Inspire new audiences as well as young composers and poets.
Hampson lets out a gentle sigh and smiling, and responds: From your mouth to God's ear....from your mouth to Gods ear.
End of interview.
Correction: KUSC has already aired “Song of America.” The final of the 13 shows last Saturday, January 21st. Starting this Saturday, January 28th at 8PM, KUSC will be airing select programs from the VoiceBox series, hosted by Chloe Veltman. Like Song of America, it features vocal music and interviews with vocalists. Thomas Hampson himself will be on VoiceBox March 10th.
More info about the series: http://www.kusc.org/programs/voicebox.aspx
For more information: http://www. SongofAmerica.net, or www.thomashampson.com.
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