Here's a relevant Op-Ed piece from the local newspaper in Melbourne, Australia. http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/for-too-long-we-have-fuelled-arts-debates-with-ignorance-20100912-156vs.html

I am not sure the argument is expressed especially clearly, but (unless I'm misreading it), it seems to be claiming that 'Culture' does not imply 'Value'--or, more precisely, that it _ought_ not to.

I find this idea at first irritating and depressing, and upon reflection disingenuous. Do others? Or are we now so terrified of making value judgments in music, so in the grip of a post-postmodern political correctness, even to suggest (perish the thought) that there really just might be more cultural _value_ in certain products of Western culture over others, eg a Mahler symphony compared with the latest hit by Lady Gaga?

Thanks, Peter, for the link to the article - I too found it depressing and disingenuous. I'm tired of high culture being equated, unfairly, with snobbishness and pretentiousness. Those of us who are involved in classical music, as performers, teachers, or simply music-lovers, should not have to apologise for our love for and interest in it. Why should everything be dumbed down into an umbrella term "culture" these days, as if we are embarrassed to be connected to high culture and high art?

One thing I did concur with in that article - that education is crucial. Good, solid arts education. We are losing it in our state schools in the UK, as 'tick-box' teaching becomes the norm, and our children are leaving school with an incomplete understanding of history, heritage and culture. Another discussion thread, perhaps?!

There's awareness in the classical music field that the image persists, and determined efforts to dispel it. Some thoughts here on marketing concerts, and how to change the image, from Tom Service and from marketing staff/digital marketing managers at the LSO, LPO and OAE.

http://www.youtube.com/user/thoroughlygood

The OAE's Night Shift seems to be doing a great job, and it's well marketed, with all the obvious must-haves of a good website, facebook page, twitter, flickr etc. 'Classical music minus the rules.'


http://www.oae.co.uk/thenightshift/
http://www.facebook.com/oaenightshift
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_night_shift/sets/72157625043564045/
http://twitter.com/theoae

The OAE has done some brilliant things: their study days are excellent with interesting speakers (Robert Levin on Mozart's piano music was superb) which draw in big crowds and help set the music they perform in context.

One of my adult students, an old friend of mine who is involved in the pop music business as a sound engineer and who has worked with artists like Moby and Badly Drawn Boy, is very switched on to the way classical music informs pop. Maybe we need more spokespeople like Andy to promote the cause, and to remind those who dismiss it as pretentious and elitist, that there is much to be gained from listening without prejudice, and taking the time to enjoy it?

Venues like Sutton House and the Red Hedgehog are doing very good things by presenting classical music in more unusual settings and allowing the audience to feel more connected to the performers. I know from my very limited experience with my students that to get up close and personal with a talented performer is a wonderful thing: a friend of mine, who is a fine amateur pianist, played Debussy's 'La Cathderale Engloutie' at my summer concert and the kids, who were close enough to see Michael's hands moving around the keyboard, were spellbound. There was no sense of this being an 'elitist' activity: it was all about sharing an amazing experience and appreciating something being done extremely well.