Style vs. substance the duality that’s on my mind as I write this.  I’m at a loss.  Why do individuals or organizations who do impeccably prepared, virtuosic performances passed over in favor of those who cloak mediocrity in the guise of a fancy mission statement?  Does it really all come down to marketing?  Are we who play traditional forms of classical music doing ourselves a disservice by slaving away to perfect our craft?

I don’t think that the style/substance relationship is a zero-sum equation.  One can inform the other.  They can achieve a symbiosis together that they would lack separately.  But, still, are we in America so impressed by a slickly packaged idea that we can overlook the actual substance of that idea?  I’m afraid to answer my own question, because one answer indicates that I’m cynical beyond rescue, and the other answer says that I’ve hopelessly naïve.

Any thoughts?

This will be a great concert, and for $10 - c’mon, it’s a steal!

$10 Friends and Family offer

Spanish Splendor with the Oregon Symphony

October 13-15

Carlos Kalmar, conductor

Patricia Risley, mezzo-soprano

Join us for an evening filled with mystery and surprise… love, passion and seduction. Featuring the cheerful, warm and lively music of Haydn, Berio and Falla.

Visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/f72zfm and enter the password SPANISH to receive your $10 tickets today.