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.

and Don Satz replies:

>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 is some truth in Don's comments, but he grossly underestimates the
overlap between the record buyers and the concert goers.  In my experience
live performances, when they click, provide something recorded music cannot
match.  And even "average" performances are events with a dimension not
shared by recorded music.  That said, it remains a fact that recorded music
provides an uparalled means of exploring a huge repertory which is
virtually ignored by most orchestras.

Bernard Chasan