"Is the theater really dead?" To answer the question wheither if the Columbus orchestra can survive in this age of downloading music for next to nothing; IMHO (in my humble opinion), no. I don't opologize for having this belief, it just doesn't seem like there's any hope to salvage, not save, this program. Why should a person pay an exorbant price to go hear live music when today's technology allows of to hear the same quality sound at a fraction of the cost. Not to mention the cost to drive, park, eat, and depending on what part of town the concert is in, your safety. So now in order to supplement the funds to keep this failing past time alive, the patrons must give more money? They would be better off just throwing dollar bills into the fire, it would at least do some good by helping them stay warm.
Lack of funds is only part of the problem in Columbus, the bad string of personnel running that program seems to have played a big part of its demise. We all know that poor leadership decisions will most likely drag any good program down into the mud of red ink; making it very hard to return to its glory days. The business model of the CSO (Columbus) is not just wrong, it's non-existent. The city has obviously forgotten about it and apparently so have many of its past patrons. Columbus has a thriving Science Museum, it draws people from all over the state. Why not let the Columbus orchestra merge into a part of the Cincinnati or Dayton music programs. Thus reducing costs and bringing the revenue of the few remaining patrons to another city and using the combined funds to create better shows that might attract bigger over all audiences.
duckworthm1
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Very interesting comments. I am not familiar with the management practices of the Columbus Symphony but apparently you are! I have a certain fondness for the symphony because it was there and thriving when I was a doctoral student at OSU in the early seventies. I heard many wonderful concerts with great guest soloists in the old Mershon Auditorium on campus. If it were not for that orchestra, I probably wouldn't have heard any concerts. I was always too busy practicing to think of driving to Cincinnati!
I still think live performances really top CDs, don't you? I hate getting into the car, driving downtown and parking, too, but once I'm in the seat and Paavo lifts his baton, it seems so worth it!
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