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Peter Burwasser on classical

by Peter Burwasser

High Art in Low Tide?

Is this a golden age for Philadelphia's classical music scene? As the season wraps up, it's possible to imagine that it is. The magnificent Kimmel Center, at the heart of the community, is host to great orchestras from around the world, and home to many local groups, including the Philadelphia Orchestra. Our hometown band sounds as luscious as ever, perhaps as a result of the diverse influences of music director Christoph Eschenbach and his predecessor, the still-active conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch. Chamber music activity is burgeoning, with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society alone giving over 60 concerts in a season. Even the new music scene seems as vibrant as ever, with organizations such as Relâche and Network for New Music celebrating major milestones this year.

But there's trouble in paradise. A few notable exceptions notwithstanding, there are an awful lot of empty seats at many of these otherwise wonderful concerts. Is it simply that there is too much going on? Perhaps, but I can remember a time, about 20 years ago, when the Academy of Music was the busiest concert hall, as measured by seats sold, in the United States. The long defunct All-Star Forum had just as impressive a lineup as the Kimmel does now. And our orchestra always filled the house right up to the rafters.

Another concern is prohibitive pricing, but this, too, is a nonissue. There are plenty of inexpensive concerts, and more than a few excellent free ones. It is true that orchestra seats at Verizon and the Academy of Music are expensive, but it is still possible to hear any Philadelphia Orchestra concert for as little as 10 bucks. That is a fabulous bargain for the chance to hear some of the finest classical music-making on the face of the earth.

A more ominous explanation — and, I'm afraid, a more plausible one — is that there is just less interest in the music. There is little doubt, for example, that young adults entering the cultural marketplace today are far less likely than previous generations to have received very much education about classical music, either in school or from mass media outlets. There is also tremendous competition from increasingly dazzling home entertainment systems.

The situation is worrisome, but not dire. A very good sign is that the ranks of sophisticated music lovers (including all you City Paper readers, of course) seem to be growing. Music marketers have a big job, but once they get people in the seats and listening, they are halfway there. Live music is definitely habit-forming.