Right on the heels of debate about the accessibility of Classical music, the the new BBC Radio 3 chief has maintained the he will continue "wise up". Coming from the Arts Council, Alan Davey doesn't believe it's his job to change programming in response to falling listener figures. He disagrees with those who think making the music more accessible will fix the problem. "If you do complex culture properly, it makes sense to people", he says.
Like many others, I am concerned about the future of Classical music, though I must agree with Davey that the solution doesn't lie with tampering with the product. Classical music has survived the ages because of its originality and sacrificing that novelty to appeal to a wider fan base misses the whole point.
Of course we want as many others as possible to find fulfillment in Classical music. I'm concerned, though, that the increasing sentiment among some listeners that long-held tradition should be abandoned in favor of a more user-friendly environment is ultimately counterproductive. If our music loses its uniqueness, it loses its whole appeal.
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