In Praise of ‘Mr. Fox’
Mark Swed’s misanthropic review of the world premiere of “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (“Lavish ‘Fox’ Outsmarts Itself,” Dec. 11) seems squarely in The Times’ tradition of grudging coverage and support for new music, particularly works by non-”L.A. homeboy” composers.
It’s sad--to me as a professional musician--that Swed couldn’t find anything to like in Tobias Picker’s complex, beautiful and deeply moving score, nor even muster the graciousness to comment on how masterfully the singers, young and old, transcended these “difficult,” angular vocal lines, nailing the unexpected pitches with remarkable accuracy, and in the best of moments making their phrases sound effortless and poignant.
How fortunate Los Angeles was to merit a world premiere of this stature.
MARGARET THORNHILL
Venice
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