Bravo Saul Levine!

I'm cheered somewhat by the subject of this article (courtesy of ArtsJournal. I've never heard KMZT, which I suspect plays it a little safe for my taste as a radio consumer, but nevertheless I applaud the persistence with which Mr. Levine maintains his mission and refuses to cave to social and economic pressures. He keeps KMZRT going, despite the fact that he could make a pretty hefty profit in his 1950's investment. As NPR stations give in to market studies and move away from classical music to all news, which IMHO is exactly the opposite of what they should be doing, he soldiers bravely on. Unfortunately he is now 80 and one day in the not too distant future he may not be around to protect the station from market forces.

One comment in the article bothers me a bit though. The writer writes: "Other independent owners — particularly in classical music radio, which has a limited, aging audience — long ago accepted offers from industry giants that snapped up FM stations in lucrative markets."

It is perceived wisdom, but, and this is not just a rhetorical question, I'd like to see the data that supports the idea that classical audiences are "aging", or at least are aging any faster than the general population. I don't deny that classical music audiences are older, but my experience doesn't seem to indicate that the audience in general is getting older on average. I see a fair amount of young people in audiences, in NY and even here in Sarasota, a retirement community if ever there was one. There may not be as many as I'd like, but they are there and they are appreciative.

OK, I read it

I seem to one of the few people on the planet who had not read The DaVinci Code. So plopped down $5.99 at Target and plowed through a copy. We were not impressed. I found it a rather run-of-the-mill mystery story.

So what is all the fuss about?

Oh to be in London

I was in London a few summers ago and caught a Prom and now I'm irretrievably hooked. Since then I listened when I can thanks to the wonders of the internet. Every concert is broadcast live and available on BBC3.

I just love the variety of music and the sheer atmosphere of it all. I know that the Albert Hall is not the best place to hear music (and Avery Fisher Hall is?), but there is a sense of excitement and I long, one day, to join the Prommers on the floor or up in the gallery.

There are two musical events that I hope to attend just once in my life: The Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Day concert and The Last Night of the Proms.

P.S. I know I'm posting and I said I wouldn't. But I just can't help it.

Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen

I'm breaking my self-imposed silence to express my sadness and grief at the passing of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. I can't think of an artist who so touched my soul in recent years as she did (in January 2005 I said as much). Hers was an artistry that defies description. I hope that in death she has found peace from the illness that plagued her in recent years.

This recording of "Ich habe genug" is remarkable.

The world is a much poorer place for her loss.