Podcast: Chapter Four – The World Has Changed

No orchestra, large or small, ever has a settled relationship with its community. It’s always a thing in flux, dynamic, fluid, fragile and complex. Whether it’s how to attract new audiences, invigorate connections to current concertgoers or tap the power of technology, orchestras are facing–and not always meeting–unprecedented challenges to remain vital.

This podcast was developed from our behind-the-scenes conversations with leaders from the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Chapter Four – The World Has Changed

Play | Download | Transcript

Participants include:

  • Lawrie Bloom, Clarinet, Chicago Symphony Orhcestra
  • Anna Clyne, Mead composer-in-residence, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
  • Anthony Fogg, Artistic Administrator, Boston Symphony Orchestra
  • Steven Lester, Bass, Chair of the Orchestra Committee, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
  • Martha Gilmer, Vice President for Artistic Planning and Audience Development, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
  • Deborah Rutter, President, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
  • James Sommervile, Principal Horn, Boston Symphony Orchestra
  • Mark Volpe, Managing Director, Boston Symphony Orchestra

This podcast was written and narrated by Steven Winn.


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4 comments on this post.
  1. Marc Geelhoed:

    Can you please post the entire transcript, and not just this edited version?

  2. Beth Hondl - AmOrchForum:

    Hi Marc – oops, our intention was definitely to post the whole thing. Let me take a look and see what happened. Thanks for the catch.

  3. Rick Robinson:

    Thanks for this discussion… I appreciate that you edited the AUDIO down to several key observations. The biggest point for me by Ms. Rutter is that the world has changed but we are far behind the times. In many places we are still reluctant to “lower ourselves” from being aloof artists. But when we realize that alienated audiences are simply looking for inspiration and spirituality, which classical has in abundance, then we start to realize that setting that personal context is something only the musicians can do convincingly.

  4. Beth Hondl - AmOrchForum:

    Rick, thanks for your comment.

    Also made me realize, I think I misunderstood you, Marc. The complete transcript of the podcast is up, but we will not be posting a complete transcript of the whole 1.5 hour conversation. There is a live blog of the conversation, though, that provides a bit more context: http://symphonyforum.org/?p=916