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Composers' personalities?

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#1 · (Edited)
Which composers were nice, and which ones were jerks? From what I read, Haydn seemed like a rather nice guy.
 
#3 ·
Benjamin Britten could be a piece of work. Although very generous and loyal when he wanted to be he also had a propensity for some rather precious and arrogant behaviour, which included abruptly casting close associates adrift for what seemed to be the flimsiest of reasons.

There was one excruciating incident in 1963 when the producer John Culshaw was seriously embarrassed by Britten in the studio in front of everyone during the sessions for the War Requiem. Culshaw's crime? To have had a rehearsal tape pressed onto vinyl and given to Britten as a 50th birthday present (the record was given the serial no. BB50) along with his best wishes. Britten, however, was far from impressed and complained that because the rehearsal was recorded and retained without his knowledge and consent it was an 'unauthorised intrusion', leaving Culshaw with a rather large flea in his ear. Nice...
 
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#4 · (Edited)
Vincent Persichetti had a cheerful, encouraging, and endearing personality that inspired those who knew him. He never said a sour word, even when reviewing unsolicited manuscripts. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and young composers were known to save the rejection letters he wrote because they cherished the comments about their work. Even the formidably dour Roger Sessions had kind words for his Juilliard colleague. He once told his biographer Andrea Olmstead that "Mr. Persichetti is pure gold."
 
#6 ·
^
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I read that Britten disliked Vickers' portrayal of the title role in Peter Grimes, but I don't know if there was anything else which stirred the pot.
 
#7 ·
Having read an enormous number of composer biographies, the personalities of the great composers are all over the spectrum. But some of the prickliest: Wagner, Beethoven, Morton Gould, Bernard Herrmann, Joachim Raff. Even Elgar could be difficult - he would reject and turn on friends for the smallest infractions. Franz Schmidt could be very difficult but then he was ill for his last decade or so. Happier composers: Mendelssohn, Schumann, Dvorak, Korngold...
When I read bios of composers or conductors one thing that stands out is the vast number of them who had mistresses. I suppose that it was acceptable back then, but to modern readers is still is somewhat shocking. Puccini, Wagner, Faure, Debussy sure didn't take marriage vows seriously.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Lully was a jerk. He probably had a superficial charm, but his greed claimed a monopoly of all music published, whether he'd written it or not. He was promiscuous with both males & females, & was maybe in today's terms a sexual predator. He had a foul temper too. He is reputed to have kicked a pregnant ballerina to bring on a miscarriage so that she was available to work in his troupe.

Doesn't stop me loving his music.
 
#13 ·
For a substantial period of his adult life Malcolm Arnold had the reputation of being rather unpleasant, and was even worse when drunk.
 
#14 ·
Another genius, Jean de La Fontaine, wrote a poem about his colleague Lully that ends with these lines:

Chacun voudrait qu'il fût dans le sein d'Abraham;
Son architecte, et son libraire,
Et son voisin, et son compère,
Et son beau-père,
Sa femme, et ses enfants, et tout le genre humain,
Petits et grands, dans leurs prières,
Disent le soir et le matin :
« Seigneur, par vos bontés pour nous si singulières,
Délivrez-nous du Florentin. »

Everyone would like him to be in the bosom of Abraham;
His architect, and his bookseller,
And his neighbor, and his friend,
And his father-in-law,
His wife, and his children, and all the human race,
Young and old, in their prayers,
Say evening and morning:
"Lord, by your kindness to us so singular,
Deliver us from the Florentine. "
 
#16 ·
Cesar Frank was living like a monk. He was also quite poor. He had an excellent character and everybody loved him. Some ladies and gentlemen with money was helping him to buy his every day food, but he never devoted works to them, as other composers had done. Instead, he tried to repay them with some free music lessons. An intact musician (organ player) and composer of the highest level.
 
#20 ·
Purcell --- Based on contemporary references to his humor and forgiving attitude toward musicians, one would like to think he might have been a friendly sort.

Handel --- Apparently had a very high opinion of himself and nearly got himself killed because of it (duel with Mattheson). He could be quick-tempered. I get the impression Handel could be stand-offish. While having guests, he would serve them the cheap port while excusing himself to sip the good stuff from his own liquor cabinet. I'm not sure Handel would have been all that much to hang out with. You could get to know him, enjoy his company, but perhaps not well.

Bach --- His son commented on his serious temperament, especially as concerns music. As far as music went, Bach did not suffer fools gladly or gracefully. If you were a musician, God help you. You'd better be a good one. Personality-wise, he seem to enjoy his beer, tobacco and wives (21 children). He also was said to have a healthy sense of humor. He was an extremely busy man and so probably didn't go to the pub very often, but if you had caught him at the Kneiper, he probably would have made a solid impression, a serious but buoyant personality who would have made you laugh with some biting comments concerning politics, the church and other musicians. Beyond that, he seems to have kept to his music, his family, and his home fire.

Haydn --- Haydn was said to have had in impish sense of humor and was well-liked, it seems, by nearly everyone who met him. A lady of high society was once in the presence of Haydn and Mozart while they conversed and said they were both bores -- talking of nothing of interest beyond music. Oh, to have been a fly on that wall.... I think you would have found Haydn unfailingly polite, pleasant and of good humor.

Mozart --- Mozart seems to have been well-known about town and quickly recognized. He must have been readily recognizable in personality and presence. One gets the sense from his many letters that he could be impish, playful, tender, kind and very vain --- very, very vain, but not arrogant. Perhaps endearingly so. He was likely much more approachable than Bach or Handel. He seemed perfectly happy hanging out with the hoy-poloi [sic] of the musical establishment --- something Bach never would have done and Haydn less likely.

Beethoven --- Beethoven was said to be charming, gregarious and approachable when young, but current theory has it that he suffered severe lead poisoning in his twenties (I think). This is thought to have had a profound affect on his personality and health. Beethoven, as most know, could be very short tempered, did not suffer fools, and was unforgiving of those stupid enough to question his musical judgement in any way. He must have liked the company of others,despite his reputation, as he frequented pubs and restaurants. His earpiece still survives, so he must have enjoyed conversation as far as possible. He could also be tender, loyal and liked to laugh (so we're told by contemporaries). I think, in his older years, Beethoven would have been difficult to know on a personal level. He seems to have enjoyed politics and the subject engaged him.

More speculation?
 
#24 ·
Was Prokofiev's debts down to cards? By all accounts Stravinsky was a decent poker player. Had they mixed in the same circles he probably would have cleaned out Prokofiev well before the revolution.
 
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#25 ·
Paganini was a notorious gambler who lost millions. At one point he was even forced to pawn his violin. He was helped out by a French merchant who gave him an excellent Guarnerius as a gift, the instrument he used for the rest of his performing career. Paganini opened a gambling casino in Paris, "Casino Paganini", which eventually failed and cost him another fortune. He died a couple of years later.
 
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