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Soundcheck

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
  • audience
    (minwoo/flickr)

    Who's the Audience for Contemporary Classical?

    While some music fans love contemporary classical, others consider it musical spinach, forced on concert audiences before they can enjoy their Brahms. On today's Soundcheck Smackdown, humorist Joe Queenan joins us for a debate on the merits of new music. Also: Afro-Peruvian ensemble Grupo Afroperuano Caracumbe perform live.

Soundcheck Smackdown: When Contemporary Met Classical

Like vegetables stuck into a delicious meal, contemporary classical music is forced on concert audiences before they are allowed to enjoy their Brahms. So says humorist, critic and author Joe Queenan. Today, Queenan and John Berry, Artistic Director with English National Opera, join us for a Soundcheck Smackdown debate on the merits of contemporary music.

Our Blog: John Schaefer dissects the appeal of modern classical music

Weigh in: if you go to an orchestra concert do you enjoy hearing a new piece along with standard repertoire? Do you prefer to see new music in separate programs?

Joe Queenan's article: Admit it, you're as bored as I am
John Berry's article: If This is Torture, Sign Me Up

Grupo Afroperuano Caracumbe

Old-school Dominican bachata and Nuyorican experimental rock meet at the indoor Queens Theatre in the Park for the annual Chase Latino Cultural Festival. The Grupo Afroperuano Caracumbe, which will open the festival, stops by Soundcheck to perform live.

Chase Latino Cultural Festival online

The Swell Season in The Greene Space

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Joshua Bell in The Greene Space

Soundcheck