Classical Music “megabucks”: Which Premiere Was The Greatest Financial Success In History?
Here in Nevada, USA, we have a state sponsored, progressive slot-machine system called the “Megabucks”.
Whenever its jackpot is hit by someone, it reverts to a beginning amount of $5,000,000. I just noticed on the TV news, that it at present had reached the sum of $32,000,000 + .
It is well known that most of the great composers of classical music never achieved any degree of financial success in their lifetime; but a few did.
Which do you consider to have hit a “megabucks” with a(more than one-?)premiere of one of his compositions?
Alberich
Tags: "megabucks", Classical, Music, Premiere, Which
September 10th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Hi Alberich!
Well, dredging back through my Baroque musical history, it seems that one of the most successful, lucrative careers was enjoyed by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632 - 87.) And no wonder, he worked most of his life in the opulence of the court of King Louis XIV…(indeed, it was there that Lully struck his toe with his conductor’s staff, and the wound turned gangrenous…and then he died…ironically, Lully’s accident occurred during a performance of a Te Deum, written to celebrate the King’s recovery from an illness…)
Lully collaborated with the playwright Moliere, and together they established a new genre - the instantly popular comedie-ballet. Lully provided the music for these joint creations, and the premiere of arguably their most well-known work, “Le Bourgeoise Gentilhomme” (1670) would undoubtedly have plumped up Lully’s already robust bank account!
Cheers,
Hafwen.
September 10th, 2009 at 9:25 am
I would say that if Liszt had the same popularity now as he did then and was still around - he would probably be bringing people in like the rock bands of today. I make this assumption based on what I have read about him. This deviates from your actual question in that I am not basing my opinion on his actual compositions but Liszt himself as a showman and musician.
September 10th, 2009 at 9:25 am
wild guess, but some say that Paganini would rank as the [first]Muhammad Ali of classical musicians (not necessarily composers)
but, adjusting for inflation, he’d get my vote
September 10th, 2009 at 9:25 am
It would be very hard to figure out, but it’s interesting. I would think Haydn’s premieres in London would have to have been pretty big “megabucks,” but it’s impossible to say without looking it up!
September 10th, 2009 at 9:25 am
I have a feeling (totally without research) that it may have been Puccini - or someone like Lehar (does he count?)
September 10th, 2009 at 9:25 am
You’re going to have to research a lot of individual premieres of many pieces.
This question is about relativity of when, how large the hall, how long the run…sold copies of arrangements, souvenirs (joke), etc.
Brahms’ beard hairs, if having good provenance, would be worth a lot at auction.
I’m certain some commissioned works, plus the length of run say, if it were an opera and ballet, might add up impressively in the era prior recording.
How do you calculate all of the sheet music profits from Beethoven (who has been known to sell the same piece to two different publishers!)
including unauthorized copies.
And…what if you could add all the later revenue generated from recordings of his music even though the Luigi was deceased?
Good luck, its a curious footnote sort of question, fruitless but fun facts.
Best, Petr B.