Is classical music dying?
While it may depend upon what we mean by “classical”,there has been concern among the cultural elite that the symphony no longer holds its position of cultural importance.
Case in point: while the LA Philharmonic opened the acoustically excellent and architecturally interesting Walt Disney Concert Hall two years ago, it has continued to have “family friendly” nights in order to boost its sagging attendance. Given the availability of pre-concert tickets at a Sunday afternoon showing, it seems attendance levels are returning to their “pre-WDCH” levels.
Now, the New York Philharmonic has hired Alan Gilbert, a relatively unknown conductor, to be its music director. Gilbert is only 40, an infant by classical music’s standards.
More importantly, probably you haven’t heard of him or the decision. Even if record sales and attendance levels are constant or improving, the New York Philharmonic and classical music remain irrelevant to the mainstream culture of America.
But it wasn’t always this way:
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