3553 - Scandals & Controversies in Classical Music & Hollywood Music (Emanuel Abramovits)
Course Description
Instructor: Emanuel Abramovits
Music has been a source of controversy and even scandal. In the search for originality, some artists push the envelope too far and either pay the price, or use it for self promotion. Cases involving Beethoven, Stravinsky, Smetana, Wagner, Mahler, Satie and others in the Classical Music field demonstrate this. Let’s analyze some of these controversial pieces. Some of them were revolutionary ones that challenged established norms and created discord. Some even created moral panics that led to cries for censorship. There have been fascinating cases in music for the movies too. The class is full of anecdotes and audiovisuals.
Bio: Emanuel Abramovits is a Mechanical Engineer with an MBA and has been a concert promoter since 2000, directly involved in many events by international artists, like Itzhak Perlman, Gustavo Dudamel, Sarah Brightman, Roger Hodgson, ASIA, Journey, Kenny G and many more. He designed and staged many original orchestral events, including an Event of the Year winner and several world premieres. He served as the Cultural Director at UNION ISRAELITA DE CARACAS from 2008 to 2019, releasing books, organizing film cycles, concerts and art exhibits. He has been consistently teaching online and in presence across the US since 2020.