musicians and the power of old age: elliott carter and charles rosen

They may be a bit shaky in the legs, but there is nothing wrong with their mental and creative faculties!  Elliott Carter, the centenarian, has composed works as intricate as ever over the last few years, and Charles Rosen at 81 is still playing Carter's complex pieces here at the Carterfest at Tanglewood this week, including the Double Concerto for Harpsichord and Piano (with Ursula Oppens on the harpsichord) which he helped premiere in 1961.  And they are both accessible:  Carter sits mostly in the audience, and Rosen is not averse to having a casual conversation with a concertgoer.

I found two excellent related articles in the NYT archive, one by Mr. Rosen himself:

Music

An Old Master Still in Development

By CHARLES ROSEN

Published: December 9, 2007

Some composers develop a late style at 50.  Elliott Carter waited for his 80s.

Arts / Music

At 80, He’s Hardly Done Talking, or Performing

By VIVIEN SCHWEITZER

Published: May 12, 2007

Charles Rosen keeps his repertory fresh by continuing to “experiment in public.”