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Jan. 29, 2010 There hundreds of symphony orchestras in America, and many are among the finest in the world. There are also great opera companies such as the august Metropolitan Opera in New York, and in those of Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Washington D.C., and other major cities. There's so much talk today about what's wrong with America, the crude, lowest common denominator popular culture, the ignorance of so many Americans, and all that. But our great symphony orchestras and opera companies are something which Americans can and should be proud of. They are a credit to this nation and a national treasure. But unfortunately, because of difficult economic times, the existence of many of them is threatened. Running a world-class symphony orchestra or opera companies is an expensive proposition. There are so many people to pay, and so many expenses. Not just the musicians in an orchestra, but the administrative staff and other employees. A major opera company has to support an orchestra, chorus, stage hands, conductors, rehearsal pianists, costume and scenery makers, and so many other people who are needed to put perform an opera. But these musical organizations are worth the money. They improve the quality of life of so many people who attend their performances. They provide excitement and joy, and make life more than just a daily grind to earn a living. And they provide employment for so many talented people; musicians, singers, conductors, skilled administrators etc. in all 50 states. But here is only a partial list of US orchestras and opera companies which are feeling the economic crunch. Some have already gone under, and others are at risk of this. Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Columbus, Ohio Symphony, Phoenix Arizona Symphony, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Honolulu Symphony, Baltimore Opera, Connecticut Opera, Opera Pacific, Orlando Opera, Virginia Symphony. There are many more facing serious difficulties. In a worst case scenario, if all of our classical music organizations went under, hundreds of thousands of people would be out of work. The National Endowment For The Arts gets less than peanuts to support the arts. The government takes less than a dollar out of each taxpayer every year to support the arts. Private donations don't provide anywhere near enough to ensure the existence of classical music in America. In Europe, generous support for orchestras and opera companies is taken for granted, even though there have been some economic difficulties in recent years there, if nowhere near a severe as here. Something has to be done.
Concerts and opera are not just a frivolous entertainment for the wealthy few. They are a very important part of America and are good for this nation. We can't afford to lose our orchestras and opera companies,
or force them to exist in diminished circumstances, with lower pay for
musicians and staff, and far fewer performances per season.
A former free lance French hornist who has performed with numerous orchestras, opera companies, concert bands and chamber music ensembles. Also a former substitute music teacher at varous public schools. Has served as music critic for student newspapers at Queens college and Hofstra university and currently involved in music appreciation programs for people with diabilities and the elderly and infirm. Has performed in Italwy, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa.
Classical music blog The Horn, at blogiversity.org. Discusses all aspects of classical music, orchestral, operatic, chamber music etc, music history, theory, current events, composers, conductors, instrumentalists, singers etc, and much more.
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