This is all very very interesting, as I'm about to move out there in the heart of it all to see what the deal really is. I must say I can't wait to live in a city with a real orchestra...but the general opinion of the BSO [on this list] is so low right now that, well, I'm not sure what to think. Well, OK. I think the following: What with all the electronic & noise music already floating around in the popular conciousness today, it seems to me that avant-garde programming, especially when mixed in with basic rep, should not be as problematic as it was even 20-30 years ago. I could be wrong, I know a lot of you Baroque-heads mention eschewing concerts altogether to avoid a Stockhausen or Boulez work. I myself would love to hear some Varese in person, or whatever they have to throw at me. It just seems that, considering what one hears on TV, commercials, in the movies, and everyday noise, that an out-there work, by oh, say, Birtwistle, or Maxwell Davies, or Xenakis, or whomsoever [even the space alien!] would have more of a chance of people getting over the initial shock in time to hear what is really going on. I figure that I should just submit an application to the BSO and get it over with. Enough stalling. Move over, Seiji... ;-) Bob K.