[Dixielandjazz] Jazz & Classical

[Rob McCallum]

Hi everyone,

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra seems to have a lot of success and high
attendance (and it certainly isn't because of low prices, their prices have
really gone up this year, and they're still packing them in).  They've built
an entire music center next to the historic Orchestra Hall (which was known
as the Paradise Theatre in the 1940's and hosted all the big bands).  I
think the DSO has pulled itself up over the past 15 years or so by having a
well-balanced schedule.  There's a classical series for the serious
classical crowd, a pops series patterned after the Boston Pops, a unique
Classical Roots series, an excellent jazz series with international jazz
stars like Brubeck, and 2 different kinds of series for kids (one being a
tiny tots series for preschoolers).

They also host both a Detroit Civic Orchestra and a Civic Big Band for
promising students.  As far as repertoire, they pull out the old war horses
(in the summertime outside at Greenfield Village with fireworks), put on the
Christmas stuff, make sure they have at least one all-Baroque show a season.
In addition, they do a lot of programming of "serious" compositions chosen
by Neeme Jarvi, and even present an occasional commissioned or experimental
piece.  They also make sure to bring in the stars and guest conductors.

I think that the key is diversity.  Each type of music has its audience and
most people don't go to Orchestra Hall every week, so they've built up
several audiences.

Now that the new Max Fisher Center has been built (which contains recital
halls), they're planning on adding chamber music and more small-group jazz.
Though I've yet to see any Traditional Jazz down there : )

Check out www.detroitsymphony.com

All the best,
Rob McCallum




----- Original Message -----
From: "LARRY'S Signs and Large Format Printing" <sign.guy at charter.net>
To: "1-DIXIELAND JAZZ POST" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2005 9:00 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Jazz & Classical


Tom said:
If the Symphonies would all start presenting some Blues they would quickly
sell out all those empty seats that they can't seem to give away.   Just
like
the major Jazz Festivals do when they hire Big Name Blues Acts on their
Festivals to sell the tickets.

Oh really - don't know what your guys sound like but our symphony guys don't
swing.  When they try to do something like that its like a grand opera star
trying to sing pop.  It just doesn't make it.  It just sounds wooden.  On
the other hand guys that swing just make rotten classical musicians most of
the time.

And before everyone jumps on me I know there are exceptions.  A true miracle
is the guy that can do both.

However I agree with the premise that if they loosened up a bit not only
might they learn to swing and improvise but the audiences would love it.  I
took in a concert at $100 per seat to a capacity audience by Andre Rieu and
his Vienna orchestra.  What a performance.  With light classic Music, some
jazz, lights, good looking women in colorful dresses and a little humor this
guy is something else.    By the way he did 14 encores that lasted about 45
minutes with the audience standing and cheering the whole time.  They would
have gone on all night.  A little show biz goes a long way.  It was the best
$200 I ever spent.  They sold out of their DVD's and gave everyone there a
CD. (estimated 2000 seats times $100 = $200,000 and that isn't chump
change).  I don't know how many DVD's they sold but there was a line.  I got
the last one.  Also they played dead on in tune and that's something of a
rarity.

This was in St. Louis Missouri and let me tell you they just don't support
music here but they went nuts for this guy.

If the symphonies would lighten up they would lose their major snob appeal
both as musicians and to some of their supporters so I don't think it would
happen.  Right now the Symphony here is in deep (as usual) doo doo
financially.

I just don't know why they don't take a lesson from the Boston Pops or Andre
Rieu.  They seem to do well with their audiences as well as financially..
Larry
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