I heard some student performances of a contemporary Russian composer. But the fragility of the preparations made the day even more exhilarating. Ironically, although the composer was supposed to come into the country for the event, he couldn't get here and the performances were videotaped for him instead. In this particular case, I'm glad he got just the videotape, because that way he didn't have to learn how disappointingly few people came to hear the recital. That paucity of support, of course, is what I want to change.
Great artistry comes from practice.
If we support our artists in the performing hall, we'll get performances that are deeper, better paced, and more significant emotionally. The Effect on Communities Supporting live performances may benefit communities even more than performers. People get to know each other and to share experiences much more meaningful than discussing what was on the tube over lunch the next day. The arts can give a community a center. Regaining the unique powers of the arena will perhaps bring people back to the realization that there is also something unique about other experiences and artifacts that are visceral and direct.