Robert Lawson Craft (October 20, 1923 – November 10, 2015) was an American conductor[1] and writer. He is best known for his intimate professional relationship with Igor Stravinsky, on which Craft drew in producing numerous recordings and books.
Robert Craft with his wife, Alva, at their home in Florida, circa early 1990s.
Craft met Stravinsky in 1948, and from then until the composer's death in 1971, Craft worked with Stravinsky in a variety of roles, eventually evolving into a full artistic partnership. Craft compiled the libretti for Stravinsky's The Flood and A Sermon, a Narrative and a Prayer, and lived with Igor and Vera Stravinsky in Hollywood and later in New York City. He remained close to the composer's widow until her death in 1982.
After Stravinsky's death, Craft continued to concertize and to write. His 2002 autobiography, An Improbable Life, details his life before, during, and after his friendship with Stravinsky. The memoir elaborates on the impact Stravinsky had on his life.
Shortly after Stravinsky's death, Craft married the composer's longtime nurse, Rita Christiansen, but the marriage did not endure. His survivors include a son from that marriage, Alexander; a sister, Phyllis Crawford; his second wife, the former Alva Celauro Minoff, a singer and actress; two stepchildren, Edward Minoff and Melissa Minoff; and four grandchildren.
Craft collaborated with Stravinsky on a series of books that covered various musical and non-musical subjects: Conversations with Igor Stravinsky (1959); Memories and Commentaries (1960); Expositions and Developments (1962); Dialogues and a Diary (1963); Themes and Episodes (1967); and Retrospectives and Conclusions (1969). They include transcribed conversations between the two men and interviews culled from various published sources, essays, diary entries, and the like, all with the professed aim of presenting Stravinsky's views on music and culture.
Craft was a two-time recipient of the Grand Prix du Disque, as well as the Edison Prize for his recordings of music by Varèse and Stravinsky. His recordings of the music of Stravinsky with the Orchestra of St. Luke's were originally available on 11 now out-of-print releases from MusicMasters and seven volumes from Koch. Since 2005, Naxos Records has gradually rereleased these recordings[1].
Legacy
Craft remained in a vanguard position in relation to 20th-century art music throughout his life. Besides working closely with Stravinsky, he produced volumes of academic and personal writings on Stravinsky and other musicians and composers.
In 2002, Craft was awarded the International Prix du Disque at the Cannes Music Festival.
Publications
Prejudices in Disguise (New York, 1974)
Stravinsky in Pictures and Documents (with Vera Stravinsky; New York, 1978)
Current Convictions: Views and Reviews (New York, 1977)
Igor and Vera Stravinsky (New York, 1982)
Present Perspectives (New York, 1984)
Stravinsky: Glimpses of a Life (New York, 1992)
Stravinsky: Chronicle of a Friendship (Nashville, 1994)
Down a Path of Wonder (Norfolk, UK, 2006)
Craft also translated and edited Stravinsky, Selected Correspondence (3 vols., New York, 1982, 1984, 1985).
References
^Schiff, David (13 March 2005). "Music; Still Turning Provocations Into Classics". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
^"Robert Lawson Craft – Obituary", Sun-Sentinel, November 13, 2015
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For the American businessman see Robert Kraft For other people see Robert Kraft disambiguation Robert Lawson Craft October 20 1923 November 10 2015 was an American conductor 1 and writer He is best known for his intimate professional relationship with Igor Stravinsky on which Craft drew in producing numerous recordings and books Robert Craft with his wife Alva at their home in Florida circa early 1990s Contents 1 Life 2 Writing 3 Conducting 4 Legacy 5 Publications 6 References 7 Literature 8 External linksLife EditCraft was born in Kingston New York to Raymond and Arpha Craft and studied music at the Juilliard School He became particularly interested in early music such as that of Claudio Monteverdi Carlo Gesualdo and Heinrich Schutz and in contemporary music by the composers of the Second Viennese School and others Craft met Stravinsky in 1948 and from then until the composer s death in 1971 Craft worked with Stravinsky in a variety of roles eventually evolving into a full artistic partnership Craft compiled the libretti for Stravinsky s The Flood and A Sermon a Narrative and a Prayer and lived with Igor and Vera Stravinsky in Hollywood and later in New York City He remained close to the composer s widow until her death in 1982 After Stravinsky s death Craft continued to concertize and to write His 2002 autobiography An Improbable Life details his life before during and after his friendship with Stravinsky The memoir elaborates on the impact Stravinsky had on his life Shortly after Stravinsky s death Craft married the composer s longtime nurse Rita Christiansen but the marriage did not endure His survivors include a son from that marriage Alexander a sister Phyllis Crawford his second wife the former Alva Celauro Minoff a singer and actress two stepchildren Edward Minoff and Melissa Minoff and four grandchildren Craft died on November 10 2015 at age 92 at his home in Gulf Stream Florida 2 3 Writing EditCraft collaborated with Stravinsky on a series of books that covered various musical and non musical subjects Conversations with Igor Stravinsky 1959 Memories and Commentaries 1960 Expositions and Developments 1962 Dialogues and a Diary 1963 Themes and Episodes 1967 and Retrospectives and Conclusions 1969 They include transcribed conversations between the two men and interviews culled from various published sources essays diary entries and the like all with the professed aim of presenting Stravinsky s views on music and culture Conducting EditCraft conducted most of the major U S orchestras New York Philharmonic Philadelphia Orchestra Chicago Symphony Orchestra Cleveland Orchestra San Francisco Symphony Los Angeles Philharmonic St Louis Symphony and Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra as well as in Canada Europe Russia Japan Korea Mexico South America Australia and New Zealand He was the first American to conduct Alban Berg s Wozzeck and Lulu and Hindemith s Cardillac Craft also led the world premieres of Stravinsky s later dodecaphonic works Agon The Flood Abraham and Isaac Variations Introitus Requiem Canticles and his Bach orchestration Vom Himmel Hoch Craft was a two time recipient of the Grand Prix du Disque as well as the Edison Prize for his recordings of music by Varese and Stravinsky His recordings of the music of Stravinsky with the Orchestra of St Luke s were originally available on 11 now out of print releases from MusicMasters and seven volumes from Koch Since 2005 Naxos Records has gradually rereleased these recordings 1 Legacy EditCraft remained in a vanguard position in relation to 20th century art music throughout his life Besides working closely with Stravinsky he produced volumes of academic and personal writings on Stravinsky and other musicians and composers In 2002 Craft was awarded the International Prix du Disque at the Cannes Music Festival Publications EditPrejudices in Disguise New York 1974 Stravinsky in Pictures and Documents with Vera Stravinsky New York 1978 Current Convictions Views and Reviews New York 1977 Igor and Vera Stravinsky New York 1982 Present Perspectives New York 1984 Stravinsky Glimpses of a Life New York 1992 Stravinsky Chronicle of a Friendship Nashville 1994 Down a Path of Wonder Norfolk UK 2006 Craft also translated and edited Stravinsky Selected Correspondence 3 vols New York 1982 1984 1985 References Edit Schiff David 13 March 2005 Music Still Turning Provocations Into Classics The New York Times Retrieved 2 February 2011 Robert Lawson Craft Obituary Sun Sentinel November 13 2015 Robert Craft Stravinsky Adviser and Steward Dies at 92 by Margalit Fox The New York Times 14 November 2015Literature EditCraft Robert 2002 An Improbable Life Memoirs Nashville Vanderbilt University Press ISBN 0 8265 1381 6 Craft Robert 2013 Stravinsky Discoveries and Memories Naxos Books ISBN 978 1 843797 53 1External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Robert Craft Contributions The New York Review of Books An Improbable LifePortals Biography Classical music Retrieved 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