Comments on: Is it necessary to give Classical Music a facelift? (part 2)

By: Jaemi

Jaemi — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:44:12 +0000

Here, here! I work with both “traditional” orchestras and new music ensembles of various sorts and I see time and time again that the problem is really about labeling. When something is labeled as “new” or “avante guarde” in a subscription symphony concert, it gets treated like a visitor from another planet. Sometimes this means an exciting and successful premier, but it rarely means a 2nd or 3rd performance. The idea that orchestra repertoire should be focused on music of the past is a very recent and anomalous phenomenon. Good music is exciting, no matter when it was composed.

So, the trick is to program concerts in a thoughtful and creative way and not segment the repertoire historically, since that only trains the audience to do the same. The mp3 generation has brought with it a world where all music is always available and the boundaries of historical period and genre simply matter less to listeners. This is a golden opportunity to create programming that is adventurous and not in the rut of Beethoven or bust (though Beethoven need not be excluded, of course).

By: ALC

ALC — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:34:25 +0000

I very much look forward to part 3. I am a marketer for a small orchestra (living in the shadows of the CSO) and I’ll readily admit that I am looking for a silver bullet to make my job easier.

I can sell out a house when Beethoven is on the program, but if I’m handed anything labeled as “new” music I often hear the drone of crickets in the audience.

For me, I need the help of the orchestra to sell this music to the audience. I need those players telling their friends and family, Facebook followers, blog readers how exciting the music is and why they love to play it. It is that excitement from within an orchestra that can assist in promoting this music. The musicians are much more emotionally connected to what is happening on stage and in their hearts when they play and it is that passion that can help to bring in the audience…not a postcard, not a radio ad or a print ad — it’s the orchestra and their love for the music.

By: Pierre-Arnaud

Pierre-Arnaud — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:00:37 +0000

I agree with you, but I think this comment has to be understood in Pollini’s own context: Whatever he plays, the concert is sold out. In this case, it’s easy to say “If you don’t like what I play, just stay home!”.

Anyway, I chose this quote just to illustrate that artists are getting tired of being taught what they should play

By: Mary Kunz Goldman

Mary Kunz Goldman — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:13:49 +0000

Something is annoying about Maurizio Pollini’s comment. It might not be for the people who go to concerts to decide what he plays, but it is for them to decide whether to go to his concert or not.

But Pierre-Arnaud, you bring up interesting points. I look forward to Part 3!