Rick Mabry <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>When I go to an art musem, it is rarely to see anything in particular,
>but instead to be surprised and enlightened. It's too bad symponies
>can't play at least one "pot-luck" selection per program, something not
>previously announced. I wonder if as many people would go to hear the
>"surprise" as would stay away.

An interesting question...curiosity versus familiarity. I am reminded
of the programming practices of a conductor like Koussevitzky...something
new, a warhorse and perhaps something less often visited. While he avoided
non-tonal music...with one exception...I have a vague recollection that
he may have conducted the Berg Concerto with Krasner...he certainly made
the careers of many composers like Copland, Schuman, Harris, Hill, Piston,
et al.

From the histories I have read, Koussevitzky usually played to a full
house. Perhaps it was just a different time.

Karl

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