考研阅读精讲（三）（上）
艺术与人文系列
2011 T1
1 The decision of the New York Philharmonic to hire Alan Gilbert as its next music director has been the talk of the classical-music world ever since the sudden announcement of his appointment in 2009. For the most part, the response has been favorable, to say the least. “Hooray! At last!” wrote Anthony Tommasini, a sober-sided classical-music critic.
2 One of the reasons why the appointment came as such a surprise, however, is that Gilbert is comparatively little known. Even Tommasini, who had advocated Gilbert’s appointment in the Times, calls him “an unpretentious musician with no air of the formidable conductor about him.” As a description of the next music director of an orchestra that has hitherto been led by musicians like Gustav Mahler and Pierre Boulez, that seems likely to have struck at least some Times readers as faint praise.
3 For my part, I have no idea whether Gilbert is a great conductor or even a good one. To be sure, he performs an impressive variety of interesting compositions, but it is not necessary for me to visit Avery Fisher Hall, or anywhere else, to hear interesting orchestral music. All I have to do is to go to my CD shelf, or boot up my computer and download still more recorded music from iTunes.
4 Devoted concertgoers who reply that recordings are no substitute for live performance are missing the point. For the time, attention, and money of the art-loving public, classical instrumentalists must compete not only with opera houses, dance troupes, theater companies, and museums, but also with the recorded performances of the great classical musicians of the 20th century.
为了赢得艺术爱好者的时间、关注和金钱，古典音乐演奏家不仅要和歌剧院、舞蹈团、演出公司以及博物馆竞争，还要和20世纪大的古典音乐家的唱片竞争。
There recordings are cheap, available everywhere, and very often much higher in artistic quality than today’s live performances; moreover, they can be “consumed” at a time and place of the listener’s choosing. The widespread availability of such recordings has thus brought about a crisis in the institution of the traditional classical concert.
5 One possible response is for classical performers to program attractive new music that is not yet available on record. Gilbert’s own interest in new music has been widely noted: Alex Ross, a classical-music critic, has described him as a man who is capable of turning the Philharmonic into “a markedly different, more vibrant organization.”
But what will be the nature of that difference? Merely expanding the orchestra’s repertoire will not be enough. If Gilbert and the Philharmonic are to succeed, they must first change the relationship between America’s oldest orchestra and the new audience it hopes to attract.
repertoire[ˈrepətwɑː(r)]
n.（总称某人的）可表演项目；（某人的）全部才能，全部本领
如果吉尔伯特和爱乐乐团想要获得成功，那他们就必须首先改变美国这一古老的管弦乐团与其想吸引的新听众之间的关系。
21、We learn from Para.1 that Gilbert’s appointment has .
A. incurred criticism.
B. raised suspicion.
C. received acclaim.
D. aroused curiosity.
参考答案：C
22、Tommasini regards Gilbert as an artist who is .
A. influential.
B. modest.
C. respectable.
D. talented.
参考答案：B
23、The author believes that the devoted concertgoers .
A. ignore the expenses of live performances.
B. reject most kinds of recorded performances.
C. exaggerate the variety of live performances.
D. overestimate the value of live performances.
参考答案：D
24、According to the text, which of the following is true of recordings?
A. They are often inferior to live concerts in quality.
B. They are easily accessible to the general public.
C. They help improve the quality of music.
D. They have only covered masterpieces.
参考答案：B
25、Regarding Gilbert’s role in revitalizing the Philharmonic, the author feels .
A. doubtful.
B. enthusiastic.
C. confident.
D. puzzled.
revitalize[ˌriːˈvaɪtəlaɪz]
re 重新 + vital 有活力的；重要的 + ize 使… → 重新获得新生 → 恢复生气
v.使更强壮；使恢复生机（或健康）
参考答案：A
As a description of the next music director of an orchestra that has hitherto been led by musicians like Gustav Mahler and Pierre Boulez, that seems likely to have struck at least some Times readers as faint praise.
orchestra n. 管弦乐队
hitherto adv. 迄今；至今；到目前为止
strike v. 攻击；罢（工、课等）
句子的主干是that seems likely to have struck…，
其中that为指示代词。
句首的 As 结构作方式状语，其中 that 引导的定语从句that has…Pierre Boulez修前面的名词an orchestra。
对这位即将成为一个迄今为止都是古斯塔夫·马勒和皮埃尔·布列兹这样的大师指挥过的乐队的下一任指挥来说，这种描述至少会让一些《泰晤士报》的读者觉得有点明褒实贬。
The widespread availability of such recordings has thus brought about a crisis in the institution of the traditional classical concert.
widespread 普遍的、广泛的
availability 可用性、实用性
bring about 引起
The widespread availability作句子主语，主干部分到：has brought about a crisis，
介词短语in the institution与of the traditional classical concert修饰crisis
听众还能够随意选择听唱片的时间和地点，这些唱片的普及给传统的古典音乐会带来了危机。
Gilbert’s own interest in new music has been widely noted: Alex Ross, a classical-music critic, has described him as a man who is capable of turning the Philharmonic into “a markedly different, more vibrant organization.”
be capable of 有能力的，能胜任的
turn…into…“把…变成”
vibrant adj.充满生机的；生气勃勃的；精力充沛的
主句的主干部分是：…interest…has been…noted，为被动语态。
冒号后的部分是对前面主句的举例说明
who引导的定语从句限定修饰man
Gilbert对新曲目的兴趣已经受到广泛的关注： 古典音乐评论家Alex Ross如此描述：他能够把爱乐乐团变成一个“与众不同的、更加有活力的组织”。
acclaim
记忆技巧：ac 加强 + claim 呼喊，叫喊 → 一再喊 → 欢呼
v.称誉某人 / 事物（为…）；给予高度评价
n.（尤指对艺术成就的）称誉，高度评价
The film met with considerable critical and public acclaim.
该影片受到了影评人和公众的高度评价。
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