[Captainnumber36]

What you find attractive varies on an individual basis, but is this an important component for you? For me it is. That is one reason why I prefer female performers like Yuja Wang or Mitsuko Uchida, they have great skill by my estimation (which is also something I look for) and I am attracted to confident women, which both of them are.

My preference in style goes to Wang, however, whom I find more intriguing and to have a style that stands out more to my ears. She is also closer to my age, so I like that aspect of it too. I can relate to her choice of clothing and ways of expressing herself this way, it is with the times of females expressing themselves sexually.

 

[Captainnumber36]

Not at all... I suppose we are after two different types of entertainment here. I'm interested in the performance; understanding of the music, inspiration, interpretation, execution. Most of my music consumption is audio-only so I couldn't care less about the physical appearance of the performer(s). "Confidence" to me relates to assertiveness in playing. If I can't hear it over a CD, then it likely doesn't matter to me. And if I'm watching a performance, I'm interested in the acting ability (in opera) more than someone's physical appearance. I don't care if it's Nikolaus Harnoncourt or Herbert von Karajan or Yuja Wang in terms of appearance. Their task is to communicate through music. Rhetorically, why should I judge them for anything other than that? I feel like some of these threads are getting weirder and weirder...

I'm sure you care about appearances on some level. For example, a performer dressed in rags at a hall is likely to be frowned upon by most classical enthusiasts.

It's almost impossible to deny we care about appearances on some level.

 

[Captainnumber36]

I'm not one for sexualizing performers for the sake of it, but expressing what's in your heart on the outside. It's part of the performance whether you want to admit it or not. It's the icing on the cake. The most important part of the performance is the music itself, but matching your musical expression through your clothing is an important part of the performance that is the icing on the cake.

 

[Captainnumber36]

Scott Ross dressed very casually when he was teaching, performing, or going about his daily life; practically in rags (or often in a leather jacket). I would have found it strange if I had seen him in concert, sure, but that by itself doesn't tell me anything about his ability to communicate music. In any case, even if I cared more (and I'm sure many people care more about that kind of thing than I do), it isn't a factor when I'm listening only and not seeing them. In opera, where I am seeing the performance, the set design and costume design is more important to me anyway, as well as acting ability, and stage presence. I certainly wouldn't choose to attend a concert given by one performer or another based on anything to do with physical appearance.

I don't think we are disagree as much as you may believe we do. Read my above post, #9.

 

[Captainnumber36]

Scott Ross dressed very casually when he was teaching, performing, or going about his daily life; practically in rags (or often in a leather jacket). I would have found it strange if I had seen him in concert, sure, but that by itself doesn't tell me anything about his ability to communicate music. In any case, even if I cared more (and I'm sure many people care more about that kind of thing than I do), it isn't a factor when I'm listening only and not seeing them. In opera, where I am seeing the performance, the set design and costume design is more important to me anyway, as well as acting ability, and stage presence. I certainly wouldn't choose to attend a concert given by one performer or another based on anything to do with physical appearance.

Would you watch a nude performance? My point being, if the music is to your liking, but the performer is dressed quite provocatively, would that be difficult for you to endure? If yes, that is still caring about appearances.

 

[Captainnumber36]

My main point with this thread is to empower performers like Wang who take extra efforts to express themselves visually to compliment their artistic voices.

 

[Captainnumber36]

We are a mind and a body. The mind in this context is expressed through the music, the body is expressed through appearances and should match your artistic voice.

 

[Captainnumber36]

It certainly is, in today's culture, more of a marketing strategy to sell tickets. I think Yuja Wang is genuine though, and is expressing her artistic voice through her clothing. I think someone like Lang Lang, with his facial expressions and body movements is rather disingenuous, but I still think he's a great player.

I do not think the only form of expression is overt sexuality, but just one of several.

I do think the sexualization of women is overly done, and in disingenuous ways that aren't focusing on expressing the artist's artistic voice, and I do think it should be done for both men and women. Being a heterosexual male, I focused on women in this thread.

 

[Captainnumber36]

Nude performances have happened you know, Gulda being the most well-known one, as well as ballets etc. One was a huge artistic and commercial success here, back in the 70s. This might surprise you. It's very good that conventions, prudishness and narrow-mindedness is being challenged at times. Over time, musician- and public-appearance have certainly loosened a bit in recent decades in many places, and that's overall a blessing.

I basically don't care much about the looks, and it has definitely not influenced my choice of preferred musicians, not to say recordings. I had a bit of a crush on one of the ABBA women and a local pop singer here, when I was 15. Some lesser talented musicians have exploited their looks for commercial reasons, but I'm not buying it any more.

I enjoy supporting the integration of mind and body. So I care about both enjoying the mind (the music here) AND body (appearances).

 

[Captainnumber36]

what is "with the times" isn't necessarily virtuous or morally admirable. The world is riddled with post-war fascination with base animal instinct which has degenerated noble cultures in the last century. Spengler is right when he speaks of a decline of the west, and it starts with sexual licentiousness.

That is a value of conservatism and a fine one to hold, but not the only one, or "right" one.

 

[Captainnumber36]

As a heterosexual male, male idols of mine such as Dave Matthews and Derek Trucks I see as brothers (the latter) or father figures (the former). I still value how they present themselves, to be in accordance with my values.

 

[Captainnumber36]

None whatsoever

It's really not that important to me either. But I think folks like Yuja Wang are heroes pushing for self expression of your artistic voice through your clothing. She does that well! Her voice is rather feisty, and she dresses to express that in her outfits.

 

[Captainnumber36]

Ohh really?!

I have a bad habit of overthinking things.

 

[Captainnumber36]

Ohh really?!

If you read the thread, you would see how my ideas evolved as discussion went on.

 

[Captainnumber36]

I really just enjoy folks who dress to express. But, it's not that important, but it is a nice thing when done well. It's what the pop music industry attempts to compensate talent with, by selling a package. That idea isn't bad, it's just that most pop stars aren't expressing their inner-voice.

 

[Captainnumber36]

I think looks are under-appreciated by "nerds" like us and over-emphasized by the pop world.

 

[Captainnumber36]

I don´t really read them but it seems there are quite a few threads concentrating on the looks, physical appearance and sexual attraction of CM artists. Many of them created by @Captainnumber36 . I find it a bit peculiar. Maybe I shouldn´t because it reflects the over-visual (or excessively visual, what is a good English expression here?) world we live in. The field of CM is part of that world, although I personally do not pay much attention to the outer appearance of the artists, and if I do pay attention for some reason, I separate the thoughts from the musical and artistic experience.

I do that type of separation too.

 

[Captainnumber36]

I have amended my stance to focus on the look over attraction of the artist. There is a differencce there.

 

[Captainnumber36]

I also struggle with my sexuality and think I’m actually gay. I sometimes make threads like these in attempts to lead a heteronormative life.

So, in my heart I really only care about personality for friends, significant others, and family.

For art, I only care about what is produced. Im sorry if the OP offended anyone.

However, I’m into fashion and expressing myself through my clothes and see Yuja Wang as a hero in the classical world for being so with it in that department and not to mention, I think she’s a great player.

 

[Captainnumber36]

Very condescending. "I think you're hot, keep it up." Really don't see the value of this thread.

Very nonsense! I'm sure Wang will be grateful for having the captain empower her!

Wow. You guys are missing the point. I think Wang gets a lot of flack for her outfits, I’m on her side and there’s nothing wrong with that and certainly not condescending.