Bernard Chasan:

>WCRB, a commercial station in Boston pitches classical music as
>"relaxing".  The B stands for bland.....  Now suppose that the BSO is
>playing a program of Beethoven and Ned Rorem.  The notice will mention
>Beethoven only.  Some public service.

The Milwaukee Symphony programs tend to be promoted that way, too, thus
failing to attract the adventurous, and failing to provide for continuity
in the generations of concert goers.  Probably these orchestras fear
alienating their moneyed subscribers, but they might consider how much
young people put out for rock concerts.  As for the blandness, it is in
no way dishonest to represent classical music as exciting.  I still recall
my younger brother's first discovery of classical music on WNYC many years
ago, at the moment when they played David Diamond's Rounds for String
Orchestra.  He was beside himself with excitement.

Jim Tobin