The Round Table (Rational Pagans Forum)

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/a ... ences.html



http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/m ... music_ross

(subscription needed to read whole article)

It's an interesting view that live classical music has been less and less listened to over the decades, and that there is a bad end in sight. This is true, apparently of all events outside of the home--- sports, movies, jazz, plays etc are all losing their audiences, so this is not a music centered event. It's a 'we're too lazy to get off our asses and pay to see something' centered event.

I'm guessing this is partially to do with the new iculture, where people can interface without seeing each others' faces. Why do anything but sit in your room when there's so much in your room? Listening to classical music on line has gone up.

The article talks baut a new 'classical club' that serves food and drinks in an informal setting, as opposed to the grand 'preacher and congregation' of traditional concert halls. Artists have commented that despite the clinking glasses and background noise, the audience is more inclined to be attentive than in a Hall.

I enjoy my trips out to live events, and I do not enjoy being plied with food and drink at every turn. but events at small venues around tables with friends are just as enjoyable as the intimate chamber music that Hex and I go to on occasion (perhaps this is a reason for the rise of chamber music?) and I will gladly participate in them, if they keep the music going.

This is an example from the club in the article:

I enjoy classical music, but don't often go to concerts. On the other hand, I don't go to concerts of any kind.

My daughters were exposed to classical music all the time in their youth, used to scare the shit out them in the car with Rossini's William Tell Overture, but they wouldn't listen to any now on a bet.

I need to play more of it now, for my grandson's sake.

This is a problem in the U.S. Live Classical music concerts are not in imminent danger in Europe.

The best thing about classical music is 99/100 it's free because the copyright has expired due to the author being dead for x amount of years. Which means much of it is free on the web.

That probably has an influence on those going to see live performances. Mind you that's always been a very upper middle class puruit anyway.

Problem is parents have to get kids interested. Best way to improve it is to have school trips to symphonies or classical concerts at schools.

I dunno--- my family was poor when I was growing up. Opera tix we $3 for the cheap seats... We went.

I didn't mean it as a money thing. Just that most people my age with kids don't do it that often.

sorry--- I was answering Dagda's upper middle class comment.

Our son's school is taking them to the symphony a lot. I'm happy.

oops.

no opps.