Chuck Israels wrote:
A couple of weeks ago, I had a conversation with my brother, Marc
Bauman, who is a producer for Live From Lincoln Center. He says that
there is great difficulty filling the seats at all the LC venues, and
many events are less than half full. Either few can afford the prices,
or few are interested in the programs, or some of both. Marc, who
works there every day, and is privy to as much inside dope as anyone,
is not optimistic. There were many interesting subjects covered in
this conversation, like the increasing tendencies towards small data
streams rather than quality reproduction (video and audio -
convenience, cell phones and iPods, rather than HDTV and SACD. Even
CDs, limited in sound quality as many are, are more than most of the
public seems to want), and the fact that the place there is money to
spend on productions (Marc was referring then to B'way shows and the
like) is Las Vegas - with something like 150,000 new people a week
looking for entertainment.
It does give one pause.
It also does give one much to think about -- if the production values of
Las Vegas or Broadway are what attracts audiences and sponsorship, then
perhaps it is time to lose the tuxedo/black-tie nature of classical
music, and get orchestras to look as if they are actually members of
this century, and are members of the correct industry -- entertainment.
Nigel Kennedy may get glares from the blue-haired set when he steps out
in sequins and with colored, spiked hair, but the interest that he
sparks among the younger folks is amazing to see. He shows them that
classical music (both from the Classical era and also from our own
times) isn't something for old farts anymore.
Kronos Quartet doesn't just play Beethoven quartets, and they get great
responses.
If the New York Phil glitzed itself up, made itself affordable to the
general public again, stopped being a museum and became a concert hall
experience, perhaps there'd be lots of BIC lighters held up during a
gorgeous rendition of the Air from Bach's Suite in D which followed a
Joan Tower composition and is followed in its turn by a Bathory-Kitsz work.
Time for the classical music world to get its head out of the sand and
"move with the times" rather than behaving in much the same manner that
orchestras of 200 years ago behaved.
That might help audiences of today feel more relaxed about orchestral
music the way that audiences of 200 years ago felt. Not a stodgy
presentation to be listened to in rapt silence, but rather an event to
attend for the audience to enjoy themselves and relax.
--
David H. Bailey
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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