John Smyth: >I have to make an uncomfortable observation to all that accuse Public Radio >stations of catering to the lesser tastes of the general public. (Everyone >but us.) Sounds right. >Recently I submitted a posting regarding Schoenberg's "Moses and Aron," >which did not generate even one public response. Granted, my "review" was >not exactly substantial, but I'm surprised no one wanted to talk about the >work itself, or the conductor, or the recording--even if it has been talked >about previously. A new recording of a major 20th Century opera such as >"Moses and Aron" conducted by a man with the stature of Boulez doesn't >come around too often. Well, I'd be glad to talk about it. I'm a Schoenberg fan, and I find the piece rather corny - sort of Meyerbeer with pretensions. It seems to me a white elephant only a genius could lead into the pen. I've not heard one performance that changed my mind. In general, I prefer other conductors' Schoenberg to Boulez's. So, really, I have nothing valuable to offer such a discussion. >Yet there have been at least 22 postings regarding, "Was Beethoven Black," >and a whopping 56 on "Soundtracks." If you were a general manager for a CM >radio station and used the latest MCML archives as a guide to "what's hot," >what would *you* schedule between 7 and 9PM? It depends on how I saw my mission. If my mission was to generate revenue to pay for my and my staff's salary, with healthy benefits and wages, I'd of course program Classical Lite. If I actually wanted to provide an educational resource to the community, I'd program the Schoenberg (or something like). >May all of us barbarians hang our heads in shame..... Why? Nobody likes everything, not even broad-minded me. I think you've fallen into the trap set by public broadcasting: we're the only game in town; we're the only thing keeping you from My Mother the Car reruns and rap marathons. Phooey. As I say, at least they have enough shame not call it educational broadcasting any longer. They are in the entertainment business (and a business it is) as much as Puff Daddy is, except they're not as successful. As far as I can tell, their main business is stroking middlebrow (and that's being kind) egos. I guess it's worth something, but not from me. Steve Schwartz