Bernard Chasan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>>Is it possible that the bad financial situation of many American
>>orchestras is tied to all that satisfying program making?

And Albie responds:

>I kinda doubt it...  I think if orchestras tried going seriously avante
>garde, their situation would only get worse.

Why is it that so many listers are so quick to mention the avant-garde (as
if it still existed) as the only alternative to the standard repertoire?
I could list many many works that are neither standard nor difficult (I
referred to some in a recent post, and others have too) but which wide
audiences would find very satisfying if they heard them.  And there
are a lot of people who avoid concerts just because the programming is
unimaginative.  At a Milwaukee Symphony concert a couple of years ago I
saw someone (not a regular) who exclaimed "At last; some music of our own
time!"

Jim Tobin