Daron Hagen: Duet with the Past

CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This episode touches on alcoholism and suicide [20:10, 32:15, 34:02–35:15, 36:09]. Listener discretion is advised.

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this very candid and insightful conversation, host Mark Perzel chats with acclaimed composer Daron Hagen about his memoir, "Duet with the Past." The episode explores the "lineage of family" that knits together music history, moving from Hagen’s decision to become a composer at 14 to his encounters with legendary figures like the late Ned Rorem and David Diamond. They discuss the "intimate transaction" of writing for specific performers and the challenges of academic mentorship, which Hagen colorfully describes as "poisonous fruit." A compelling detail from the episode reveals that Hagen hears a constant "storm of music" in his head at all times—even while holding a conversation.

LISTENER DISCOUNT CODE: Receive a 25% discount on this title when purchased from McFarland's website by using the code BESTPART at checkout: mcfarlandbooks.com/product/duet-with-the-past

FEATURED TITLE: "Duet with the Past: A Composer’s Memoir." McFarland, softcover (2019) ISBN: 9781476677378 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/duet-with-the-past

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Composer, conductor and operatic polymath Daron Hagen has written five symphonies, a dozen concertos, 13 operas, reams of chamber music and more than 350 art songs. His intimate, unsparing memoir chronicles his life, from his haunted childhood in Wisconsin to the upper echelons of the music world in New York and Europe. Hagen’s vivid anecdotes about his many collaborators, friends and mentors—including Leonard Bernstein, Lukas Foss, Gian Carlo Menotti, Paul Muldoon, Ned Rorem, Virgil Thomson and Gore Vidal—counterpoint a cautionary tale of the sacrifices necessary to succeed in the brutally unforgiving business of classical music.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Daron Hagen is a multifaceted American artist; a composer, writer, and auteur filmmaker celebrated for pioneering the operafilm genre. His internationally acclaimed Bardo Trilogy streams worldwide. Across five decades, Hagen has composed 13 operas, 5 symphonies, 12 concerti, and more than 250 art songs. His works have been performed by the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, and Seattle Opera, among others. Hagen has taught at Bard, Curtis, the Chicago College of Performing Arts, and the Princeton Atelier. Hagen studied at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Curtis, and Juilliard, and continues to create and direct from his home in upstate New York.

Website: www.daronhagen.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaronHagenOfficial/

OTHER BOOKS BY DARON HAGEN

"Exploring Operafilm: Making The Bardo Trilogy." McFarland, softcover (Coming in 2026) ISBN: 9781476699561 https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/exploring-operafilm/

ABOUT MCFARLAND: McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, McFarland is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in range and a reliable source of worthy books that other publishers overlook. They have about 8000 unique works for sale and publish about 350 new titles each year. Meeting high library standards has been a major focus since the company began, and many McFarland books have received awards from the academic-oriented (Choice Outstanding Academic Title, ALA Outstanding Reference Work) to the mainstream (Hugo, Edgar, Stoker, and Eisner, among others). www.McFarlandBooks.com

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