Regarding the issue of programming modern music.  A small, but less
remarked upon, challenge could be that much of this music demands repeated
hearings to be appreciated.  One is unlikely to respond on the first
exposure.  But an audience is not likely to have the opportunity to
prepare their ears for the piece before it is scheduled.  Thus they hear
it for the first time at the concert, dismiss it, and the cycle continues.
James Levine, who has a reputation for challenging audiences made an
interesting comment in a recent Boston Globe interview.  Basically, he
proposed a different standard: rather than judging the piece completely
on one hearing, determine if there is ANYTHING in it that interests you
or that you respond to.  If there is nothing, leave the piece alone.
But if you find one thing of interest, listen again and see if you find
another.  Admittedly, this doesn't solve the problem of infrequent
opportunities to hear new music.  However, it does seem that technology
(if not CD manufacturers) could help with this.  Perhaps someday there
will be a way for symphony orchestras to post excerpts of rehearsals
online, for example.  Incidentally, my understanding is that, while many
subscribers have left the BSO, they have been replaced by an almost equal
number of single ticket buyers-many of whom are younger, which addresses
another problem symphonies face, that of the graying audience.

Zeke

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