The Alleged Death Of Classical Music

Justin Davidson bids farewell to his job at Newsday with a ringingly hopeful overview of the state of classical music. A generous shout-out notwithstanding, I agree with most every word. I especially like this thought: "I've never been sure why the appetite for apocalyptic stories about classical music seems to be unquenchable. Maybe it's that in populist America, we take pleasure in the thought that democratic culture can expunge an ancient tradition associated with the aristocratic." Hence the American media's love for the death-of fable. These days, ironically, mega-rich pop stars are more aristocratic in their values and habits than anyone involved in classical music.

(via Alex Ross)