Christopher Webber writes:

>The mystery is how little concert programmers, still catering stoically
>for a moribund clientele and its terminal diet of Beethoven sandwiches,
>takes note of the repertoire which is selling so cosily and consistently in
>the record shops - Bax, Rubbra, Martinu, Vaughan Williams, Barber et. al.

It's been my experience that the audience for concerts is not the same as
for record buying.  In general, I think that record buyers are more serious
about their music; so many concert goers, even those holding a season's
ticket, are just as interested in getting out, socializing, and making a
fine evening of it as in actually listening to music.  There's no problem
with that at all, but it does help explain the programmer's mind-set that
the concert audience might well be skeptical and not receptive to different
material.

On the other hand, I found out when working in a classical record shop that
infrequent buyers generally wanted the 'big' names.  That was the buying
approach which made them comfortable.  I understood that and gave them
exactly what they requested.  I always aim to please.

Don Satz
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