Re: the cellos.   No way will that ever come close to Dvorak, Haydn, etc. It seems a real shame if that sort of pandering is necessary to fill a concert hall.

Yes, in some ways, I am a real conservative, reactionary, whatever you want to call it.   If this be treason, make the most of it.

The piece sure did point up the vast superiority of classical music in a lot of ways---that wonderful opus was singularly lacking in, say, any development of the theme whatsoever. And they say Tchaikovsky doesn't have enough development in his symphonies.

But I certainly do agree that long hair you can throw around is a plus in a concert hall--lots of classical artists have latched onto that. And I agree it's fun to see that.