“In 1993, a group of prominent orchestra administrators issued a report predicting the obvious: doom and destruction unless the nation’s symphonies radically changed the way they did business. In the future, according to ‘Americanizing the American Orchestra,’ orchestras would have to consider ‘collaborative efforts with other art forms, interactive audience projects, the use and adaptation of technology, and other departures from business as usual.’

It was a badly written, sanctimonious, controversial document, and most American orchestras simply ignored it. To the extent that they adopted any of its recommendations, orchestras did so halfheartedly, amateurishly and without real faith in the underlying premise: that audiences craved a new kind of concert, updated for the 20th century. ”

What do you think?

Would you be more interested in visiting the symphony if it incorporated more modern design and technology? As a patron of the arts, would you think this was a good investment? What would you do to improve classical music?