Not
too long ago I came across an article in Classic FM, one of my favorite
classical music websites, titled “13reasons classical music is not dead”. I loved the article because it pretty
much sums up a bunch of funny reasons that show you classical music is not
dead. Funny but true reasons that, amongst the lighthearted nature of the article,
actually embody a powerful tool to rebate those who claim that classical music
is dying.
The
dying nature of classical music is an old-talked-about topic and a heated
debate amongst musicians and aficionados. It has also sparked some of the more
modern approaches to this music, such as open air concerts with amplification, the
Metropolitan Opera’s revolutionary presentation of their operas in movie
theaters around the world, the NY Phil’s Biennial and so any other efforts to
keep classical music relevant.
After
a rough 2013-2014 season, the Metropolitan Opera recently announced that their
ticket sales are rising and are up 2 million dollars from this same time last
year. After difficult labor talks with the choir and orchestra, in which both
decided to reduce their fees by 7%, the administration and even the soloist
have opted to voluntarily lower their fees to keep the institution running.
The
fact that some of the biggest musicians in the opera world such as Joyce Di
Donato, Anna Netrebko and Plácido Domingo have decided to lower their fees for
the Met Opera is a clear indication that, as long as there is people who love
it classical music will stay alive, because we will do everything in our power
to keep it alive.
Now
it’s just a matter of continuing to look for ways to integrate classical music
with audiences nowadays, to make it more approachable. A very good example of a
way to do this can be found in Baldur Brönninmann’s article “10 things that we should change in classicalmusic concerts”, in which he proposes, among other ideas, to allow people
to use social media during concerts as long as their cell phones are in silent
mode, because what musician wouldn’t like the free publicity of the whole
audience tweeting or posting about it?
Unfortunately
some musicians are still holding on to the nineteenth-century etiquette for
concerts, which makes these feel very distant and cold. Hopefully the new
generations of musicians that are now seeing the benefits of opening up our
craft to a more modern approach, can end up convincing these traditionalists to
come to our side, the side of people making music for other people and all
kinds of people.
Sometimes
musicians get very full of ourselves because we have the ability to bring this
amazing, beautiful gift of music to the world. But at the same time, we forget
that it is truly, only a gift, if an audience can appreciate it and love it as
much as we do.
