The premise that classical music is on its last legs has raised its head
many times on the list over the past few years.  We can only speculate
what the future will hold, but I maintain an optimistic view based on my
belief that the the classical audience, although small, is dedicated and
has greater than average financial resources.  Concerts in my area of the
world are well attended, and the choices of recordings continue to be very
healthy.

I suppose that each of our views on the matter are impacted by the
position we hold in the chain.  I'm on the retail/receiving end and am
fully satisfied.  'Early' and 'baroque' music have grown in popularity,
the romantic-era composers are still trotted out continuously, and modern
compositions certainly get a fair hearing as the internet comes to the
rescue.  I fully expect that classical music will last through my lifetime
and that of my children.  At that point, the sun will probably explode and
make the whole issue meaningless or there won't be any ozone left to keep
us alive.  The environment's in much worse shape than classical music.

Don Satz
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