Classical music audiences are getting older, but not necessarily wiser and, most often, flock en masse to “safe” offerings rather than to try something a little off the beaten path. In an article published last Thursday, The Guardian goes so far as to include in the header: “Boundaries are being broken across the music world. The industry can capitalise on it if it embraces the spirit of change.” Wishful thinking or can real opportunities for broadening the listeners’ pool can  – must – arrise?

Max Hole writes:

“In a world where listeners no longer define themselves along firm genre lines, music is increasingly just that – music. As a result, we are now witnessing a musician-led movement gleefully adopted by listeners, in which classical is being rebranded from the ground up. Even the term “classical” itself seems obsolete in the face of what’s being produced and consumed.”

Further in the article, he states:

“Perhaps most crucially, young musicians need to be involved in the presentation of their music at a higher and deeper level.”

Indeed, it is too bad that most musicians don’t take the one-on-one route and share their love of music in schools (or even jails, as Alain Lefèvre does) or talk to the audience in an accessible, non-condescending tone.

To read the article…