Community Orchestras:
Metro Atlanta's community orchestras are lame. That's not because they lack the talent or funding of the ASO, but because they lack imagination. They still develop shows and seasons in the same style and fashion of orchestras 50 years ago.
NEWS FLASH: The times really have changed.
The speed at which we, as humans, process information is much faster now than at that time thanks to computers, video games, and television. Having the patience to sit through multiple hours of a Bach passion work is more than even I can do.
I have heard time and again that if many famous composers were alive now that they would thrive more in the realm of jazz. This is probably true of many of them because it is ever changing and re-inventing itself. A similar characteristic of history's greatest composers. However, there is always the exception. Look at Aaron Copland. He lived throughout the jazz era and never touched it. But, his pupil and life-long friend, Leonard Bernstein embraced it and grew it.
Back to my initial point: Community orchestras typically do tried and true stuff and a pops series. Arthur Fiedler is dead. The tried and true works. It sells some tickets to old folks and young kids, but it sure as hell does not compete with anything else and you pretty much lose the 35-55 market. Of course, these people have the most disposable money and go out more often.
Also, I feel that the community orchestras are doing a disservice to the greater community by being tried and true and not provoking thought within the community.
When I look at the we-sites for the Dekalb Symphony and the Cobb Symphony, they bore to tears and so does their programming. Actually, the Gwinnett Community Symphony Orchestra seems to be the only group thinking outside the box. Good for them!
Speaking a little further out, I heard the Macon Symphony once. ONCE. Apart from their average at best programming, the conductor, whose ego is larger than the rest of the orchestra, played very strange interpretations. Everything concerned with that group seems to promote his ego. A very sad case. Of course, the Savannah Symphony, our state's oldest orchestra, folded because they couldn't do it for $3,000,000 per year. An even sadder case.
What is the problem with these groups? I think it is the fact that we have non-innovative people running them. Until the public demands more, they will always get less.
