Linda Rogers writes: >To have a tall and stable pyramid, you need a broad base, and it seems >to me that the recording industry and recording consumers aren't supporting >that base very well. The support might not be strong, but I think it isn't realistic to expect people to show up for live performances based solely on providing "support". There needs to be some basic desire to attend for one's own enjoyment and/or musical rewards. I've mentioned often in the past that I find the whole atmosphere of the concert hall (as presently organized) to be alien and not to my liking. I have offered some suggestions for improvement, and they have universally been rejected by list members who do attend concerts frequently. I have to assume that matters will not change, and I'm not going to spend hours (even if free of charge) in an environment I don't want to be be in for any length of time. >And I do find endless posts about what is the "best" recording of this >and that a tad tiresome.... Those postings aren't endless; each one is finite. Do I hear the word "hobby"? For some of us, classical music is essentially our favorite hobby, although a very significant and serious one. I am a serious record collector, not a "high art" person or a person out to save something about classical music that might be eroding. I love buying music, listening to it, and writing about what I've bought and listen to. The way I perceive the situation, each person makes decisions based on preferences, and the totality of those decisions tells us what's going on and what's likely to happen in the future. I strongly believe in people doing their own thing with the overall results being whatever. If all this concludes with the base falling apart (which I doubt), then I'll live without the base. My humble opinion is that new ideas need to be brainstormed and implemented by those in charge of organizing concerts. Give me something to look forward to and I'll be the first one to buy a ticket. Don Satz [log in to unmask]