Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcs!lsuc!pesnta!amdcad!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-star!malik From: malik@star.DEC (Karl Malik ZK01-1/F22 1-1440) Newsgroups: net.music.classical Subject: going to concerts Message-ID: <543@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Tue, 12-Feb-85 10:05:44 EST Article-I.D.: decwrl.543 Posted: Tue Feb 12 10:05:44 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 13-Feb-85 13:30:48 EST Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 30 subj; going to concerts Someone recently asked about our concert going habits. In high school and college I went often (several times a week); both orchestral and chamber groups. These days, I rarely go. Perhaps once a year and only if it is a performance of a composer I really like, and is not available on records (usually premiers). Well, one of the reasons is that I no longer live in a big city. Boston is 50 minutes away and driving/parking is a pain. The last three performances I saw were Berio conducting 'Points on the Curve to Find' (amazing piece!), the Kontarsky brothers playing Stockhausen's 'Mantra' for two pianos, and Steve Reich & Ensemble (did 'Drumming' among other things). Summary - for me, the excitement of live performance is offset by practicalities (driving, parking, crowds, price), no guarantee of a good performance, possible bad seating and/or acoustics, and the fact that I can't hear it again whenever I want to. I prefer recordings. - Karl