Video screens in Music Hall

This week is your last chance to check out the video screen experiment at the Cincinnati Symphony in Music Hall. There were surveys in last week's programs (although I didn't see those the first week...) Clearly, a lot of this is "preaching to the choir," but folks around me seemed to like the idea.

Here's what I thought about week 2: The commentary was too short. I think the first week there was just enough said to give us a personal view of why Paavo is programming these things. This week, it was, "this is a great symphony." OK, to me that says nothing. I wanted more. Even two sentences would have done it.

Also, I think the screen size should be bumped up a few notches. I could see people squinting up there in the gallery. I thought the sound quality was fine. I still think, as I said below, that Paavo should be filmed in a more inviting environment.

I got one phone call from a Northern Kentucky fan who HATED the screens. He felt if you want to know something about the program, you go to the pre-concert lecture, and that the music should start at 8 p.m.

I see his points -- but this is the way they've done things for 110 years. I applaud them for trying something new. And it's not lecturing. I found the overall effect sort of like the "amuse bouche," that whets your appetite for whatever the chef is cooking up.

Restaurant reviewer Polly Campbell liked them, and she thinks the screens might be nice in the lobby, running continuously. Hmm. Not a bad idea... but there's a lot of noise out there.

What do you think? Let me know! jgelfand@enquirer.com, or post a note below.