Arnold Bosman wrote: >Sadly, you're probably right: it is difficult to imagine a Callas today >getting a role in a major opera house, or a young Horowitz winning an >international piano competition.... we've traded technique for expression, >individuality for easily consumable tags like 'mainstream', HIP, analytical, >romantic, etc. While I tend to think that way most of the time, I do find some who manage to maintain distinction in their playing. I also find, from time to time, a critic who supports that individuality in the playing. Now, for a critic to be accepting of a few wrong notes, even in a live performance...that is very rare. Then, in recordings, if the sound is poor, some won't even listen. Karl