A few random thoughts about the symphony

Bring back the women’s committee: Remember the Women’s Committee of the CSO? About 20 years ago, the ladies were selling subscriptions, inviting friends and neighbors and even dragging their husbands to concerts. Several men were always seen at intermission with earplugs listening for the Reds score, but they were THERE. In the committee’s heyday, president Louise Nippert oversaw 1,000 women who each canvassed a neighborhood. Then – telemarketers replaced the Women’s Committee. I believe that was the beginning of the downturn in attendance. Why not bring it back? Rick Reynolds’ pitch to bring your friends -- or 2 or 3 -- is exactly what is needed right now. Often a personal invitation will make all the difference.

Click here to check out this weekend’s program with the May Festival's director of choruses Robert Porco (shown) conducting Britten, Bach, Schubert and Vaughan Williams.

Educate: But they already do, you say? I say, it’s time to educate the adults. Take a look at this fabulous Web site that the San Francisco Symphony just enveiled. You can listen to a recording of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony while you follow the score and watch a podcast of Tilson Thomas and the orchestra playing it at the same time! There’s also historical background.

It’s meant to be a companion to the SF Symphony’s Keeping Score TV series for PBS, that begins airing next week. You can also find trailers for the Keeping Score TV series on this same site.

Another blog: The discussion about the symphony has now migrated to another blog! Check out the violinmasterclass Web Site to see what CCM professor Kurt Sassmannshaus has to say about Music Hall and the symphony.