The straw man that is the ‘dying’ of classical music really needs to be disposed of. I love this satirical article – which is the exact opposite of most articles about the state (whatever that is) of classical music today – and wish someone would write one that is serious.
Journalists and critics were quick to pick up this story and perpetuate it for decades for no reason. “It is clear from this one concert that all of classical music is dying,” they all said incessantly without evidence. “The way we are going to illustrate that argument is by constantly talking about how audiences are supposed to clap or not clap and how important that is because that’s the only thing we understand fully.”
One reply on “classical music’s new clothes”
RIght!? In response to the bromide, “Classical audiences are aging,” I always say, “They’re the same age they’ve always been!” And actually, I see more young people than ever, so I may have to stop saying that!