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There's a serious debate over where classical music is headed, especially as audiences worldwide continue to gray. Well, cite this as evidence of a demise: over the weekend, the Philadelphia Orchestra decided to declare bankruptcy after years of audience declines. "We're in a state of shock, really," principal oboist Richard Woodhams told the Associated Press. "I think it's a very, very sad day for culture in the United States and the world."
A number of problems were cited, the biggest being less butts in symphony hall seats
. The Orchestra received an emotional standing ovation this weekend following the performance of Mahler's 4th, though even that crowd was thinned. Now, it's off to the negotiating table and internal fighting, as unions, management, and even donors are likely to spar.
The big question is whether this 111-year old outfit finds a way to survive. And, what this means for orchestras and classical music worldwide. The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the big ones - in fact, it's one of the "Big Five" in the US. But it seems that audiences are shifting away from the seriousness and length of classical and operatic works, and simply lacking the patience and appetite from such full-length fare. Indeed, the more common appetite these days is for bursts of multi-tasked enjoyment, and attention spans are quickly moving south. Which is bad news for orchestras and their hours-long performances.
Meanwhile, the walls are also collapsing around smaller groups. That includes the Detroit Symphony, whose players just resumed after a months-long strike; and the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, which has now suspended operations for an indefinite period. The Philadelphia Orchestra is not canceling any performances, however, at least for now.
Comments Closed
wallow-T Monday, April 18, 2011
"But it seems that audiences are shifting away from the seriousness and length of classical and operatic works..." The success of the Metropolitan Opera's "Live in HD" series at movie theaters suggests that it's not the inherent length (or seriousness) of the works which is a problem. The Hollywood Reporter generally reports that "Live in HD", which it counts as a "specialty" market, would come in around #12 for the weekend box office, based on the one live showing Saturday afternoon. Where I live, the multiplex comes close to selling out two auditoriums. And this is for a 3-4 hour production (with intermissions) premium priced at $22 -- well, that's premium for a movie, but it's cheap for opera.
For an overview of the future possibilities with classical music, Greg Sandow's blog is essential.
lifer Thursday, April 21, 2011
How ironic this headline seems, given the recent post about public radio, which has become the last broadcaster to champion "classical" music and jazz.
What role should government have in preserving "culture?" Should museums receive government funding? Orchestras? Composers? Visual artists? Historians? Scientists and other researchers?
@alyssajayson Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Alyssa Jayson
Sad. All for evolution but will there really be a day when no one knows Mozart? Europeans please keep culture cool!
bill Tuesday, April 19, 2011
the major labels need to get behind classical and other composed music and re-ignite the interest for this music in the masses. it's in their interests to do so - the majority of the music is public domain and many composers have a world-wide multi-generation. perhaps the live format can be revamped a little too. the addition of something more visual would probably help though i understand that it's opposite of the intentions of most composers. certainly the quality of performance and interpretation of the score has to be paramount but why not explore the possibilities of the performance space beyond the aural? either way it's time the music industry supported this music more. why not have an MTV or VH1-style channel for composed music? something that promotes the artists beyond a bland one-camera shot of a performance. the audience is far bigger and broader than the audience for any band, hip-hop, R&B or pop act bringing their first or second video out.
Ben Wednesday, April 20, 2011
As much as I love 'classical' music (side note of the umbrella term 'classical' including all other genres like romantic, boroque, 20th century, etc) the fact is if you don't stay ahead of the game you die. That goes for any music. How many more times do we need to have Mozart shoved down our throats simply for the fact that it needs to be saved and remembered and petted and loved??? Yes, I know he's more than amazing - I went to music school and studied it diligently. But, how long did it take you to stop listening to your local classic rock station before you realized that they were only playing about 5% of classic rock that actually existed. Well, same goes for our orchestras.
When music starts existing for the sole purpose of preservation the novelty is going to wear off. I love going to a theater to listen to them play live, but I don't need to hear or read about an orchestra performing Beethovens 9 symphonies in a row because it's been done so many times!
Please start challenging audiences again - and no, not by playing The Rite of Spring.
But of course that will never happen because of all the snobby and jaded ensemble members that plague our orchestras. "If it's not Handel, it's NOT MUSIC."
Sara L. Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Really, Ben? Is that really how you feel after going to music school and studying it diligently? Well, what about MY 8-year old daughter who is just now learning about Mozart and how his musical influence shaped the current pop music she also loves. And what about her little friend, Hannah, who started violin lessons last year and is a real natural talent? Are you suggesting that they shouldn't have the privelege of hearing the symphony play Mozart because you're bored by it? Should we also take down the Mona Lisa from the Louvre because it's been hanging there for awhile and is looking a little, ummm, old?
Just like a great library, a wonderful museum, or a beautiful park enhances the life everyone in a city and uplifts the entire culture, so does a symphony orchestra. The Philadelphia Orchestra has had some of the greatest musicians and conductors in the world associated with it. It is a sad day that they aren't able to thrive, Mozart or not.
Shadow_and_I Wednesday, April 20, 2011
This is indeed sad news. In Seattle this week, too, the Intiman theater cancelled its season due to financial trouble.
I'm an avid lover of both classical music and theater. I would dearly love to attend more symphonic performances. But the truth is that, despite the fact that both my partner and I are well employed, costs have risen and the mortgage crisis struck us personally.
We try to make it to the ballet, the symphony, the theater, as often as possible. But that's not often enough because, frankly, the tickets are priced too high.
Maybe if places like symphony halls, opera houses and theaters would give a little on the price at a time when we're all making sacrifices, more people could attend more often and we'd all make it through this together, with these august organizations in tact when we emerge on the other side.
lifer Thursday, April 21, 2011
Who is going to "give a little?" The musicians? Just asking.
You can't talk about the costs without including the salaries of performers and administrators. Maybe they are not high enough for the workers but maybe they ARE too high to sustain the business model.
@CRASHarts Sunday, April 24, 2011
WorldMusic/CRASHarts
So sad, are we headed to a future w/out live performances?
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