CSO tour

To the questions "Why should the Cincinnati Symphony tour? Do you think they should? Why is it worth it?" Besides the obvious need to put yourself in front of an audience so as to sell yourself; a tour puts you in front of different faces which could help build up popularity. This might give the audience a chance to hear a different interpretation of a work than what their home symphony offers. Without such performances an artist ability to make a living is limited, they need venues to meet customers. I am concerned whether or not our symphony should tour. There is also the potential for a negative backlash from touring. If they can't have a good showing at home how can we expect them to do any better on the road? They may be well received in a city that is more culture centered such as New York or Los Angeles; but if they try to go to cities like Kansas City or Little Rock the reception may be like that of home. Also, if they perform at a larger venue, can they perform to the level of difficulty that the audience is accustomed to? I don't doubt that the CSO is a great group, but they are no New York Philharmonic or the Boston Pops. Our symphony can be compared financially to that of our baseball team. If the Reds want the best players, they must have the money to compete with the teams of the big cities. They can't afford to pay one player fourteen million dollars, they can barely afford three million. The same goes for the symphony, the big city groups have the money to buy the best musicians and carry the prestige to keep them. As far as touring goes, I believe that they should improve the situation here before they travel. I was taught that before you go out to play, make sure that you have your room cleaned.
mrbortlein