Classical Notes: August 20, 2007 Archive

Coco and Igor

Posted at 8:47 AM on August 20, 2007 by Rex Levang

Whenever classical music is used in the movies, it gets introduced to a whole new audience. A lot of people got to know Mozart through "Amadeus," Barber's Adagio for Strings through "Platoon," and Loony Tunes deserves a whole entry of its own.

And even years after its release, we still get calls here asking about "that piece they used in 'Days of Heaven.'" (It's the "Aquarium" section from St.-Saens's "Carnival of the Animals.")

The next composer due for this treatment is Stravinsky. Here's the news from filmdom about "Coco and Igor," about the alleged liaison between Stravinsky and fashion designer Coco Chanel. Who can doubt that next spring, cineastes will be crowding the music stores looking for "The Rite of Spring," "Apollo," and the Symphonies of Wind Instruments?