My OperaLocal Newspapers and Classical Music concerts
Saturday, August 1, 2009 12:37:35 PM
Last Sunday evening the internationally acclaimed pianist Piers Lane presented a recital in the beautiful West Australian Government House Ballroom on a brand new Fazioli 9' with Paulo Faziolo present for the occasion.
There was nearly a full house so you would imagine that a decent critique of the concert would be found in the next few days in the local newspaper...
No:
Music on the Terrace
Sunday afternoon was alive with culture at Government House Ballroom as internationally acclaimed musician Piers Lane took to the stage for a very special performance as part of the Music on The Terrace 2009 series . Launching the new Fazioli grand piano recently arrived from Italy, guests were entertained by a brilliant romantic and sensitive Lane, playing Schubert, Brahms, Mendelssohn and Chopin.
Now this is a good example of being completely uninformative.
There is no acknowledgement of one of the world's finest piano makers in attendance.
Neither is there any idea of the actual sound of the instrument let alone just what Piers Lane's performance was like.
Unfortunately, this is the standard of journalism we people living in the Antipodes have become accustomed.
It gets worse...
Where do you look for reviews of classical music concerts?
Don't go to the Music section because - clearly - Classical Music isn't music.
You'll find it in the Arts section which leads one to hypothesize that the Arts editor of the West Australian thinks of Classical Music as somewhat elitist. It certainly will be perceived that way if it is continued to be relegated to the pretentious end of the newspaper.
The approach and the reportage is lamentable.
Do similar problems exist elsewhere? Of course, but to such a degree - not likely - unless you're in sport and pop culture mad Australia.
Rider: I cycle 20kms a day and am a musicologist/harpist. What I want is intelligent journalism and a recognition that what is needed is a balance in life reflected in the reportage found in our electronic and print media.
There was nearly a full house so you would imagine that a decent critique of the concert would be found in the next few days in the local newspaper...
No:
Music on the Terrace
Sunday afternoon was alive with culture at Government House Ballroom as internationally acclaimed musician Piers Lane took to the stage for a very special performance as part of the Music on The Terrace 2009 series . Launching the new Fazioli grand piano recently arrived from Italy, guests were entertained by a brilliant romantic and sensitive Lane, playing Schubert, Brahms, Mendelssohn and Chopin.
Now this is a good example of being completely uninformative.
There is no acknowledgement of one of the world's finest piano makers in attendance.
Neither is there any idea of the actual sound of the instrument let alone just what Piers Lane's performance was like.
Unfortunately, this is the standard of journalism we people living in the Antipodes have become accustomed.
It gets worse...
Where do you look for reviews of classical music concerts?
Don't go to the Music section because - clearly - Classical Music isn't music.
You'll find it in the Arts section which leads one to hypothesize that the Arts editor of the West Australian thinks of Classical Music as somewhat elitist. It certainly will be perceived that way if it is continued to be relegated to the pretentious end of the newspaper.
The approach and the reportage is lamentable.
Do similar problems exist elsewhere? Of course, but to such a degree - not likely - unless you're in sport and pop culture mad Australia.
Rider: I cycle 20kms a day and am a musicologist/harpist. What I want is intelligent journalism and a recognition that what is needed is a balance in life reflected in the reportage found in our electronic and print media.
