Previn's petty put down of Les Baxter

Previn has always been enormously snobby about his film work, regarding it as worthless trash done for uneducated idiots that he had the talent to escape into 'proper' music (rather ironic considering many classical conductors regard his conducting as downmarket populism that trivialises many of the classics). With such a low opinion of his own oeuvre it's no surprise he has even less regard for those who remained mired in the swamps. Putting down Baxter is just another way of emphasising how above the untalented Hollywood rabble Previn was.


"Security - release the badgers."

I think I read somewhere that Bernard Herrmann referred to Previn as that "jazz boy" needing to slight him as an encroacher on Herrmann's hallowed turf. Previn's high self regard probably explains how he's managed to charm the rubes for decades. What must have Leornard Bernstein said about Previn? I don't think it would have been praise. Bernstein evidently was a super envious type and could be venal in the extreme. We need to think that those who have created works which have given such joy to many as beyond pettiness but alas that is not the case.

What must have Leornard Bernstein said about Previn? I don't think it would have been praise. Bernstein evidently was a super envious type and could be venal in the extreme.

Lenny was a catty one, I have read!

"The sport is in the trackin' an' the huntin'..."

Yes, that is what I've read. Evidently while watching Koussevisky thrillingly conduct a Mahler work he sat on his hands during the standing ovations. His companion wondered why he wasn't joining in. His response was he was too envious. So with talent and skill comes venal ego.

I bought the dvd of a 1982 horror film THE BEAST WITHIN and plan on watching it later today. I'll be paying specific attention to the score by Les Baxter.

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