Julie I do not think that the areas of classical music you refer to are suffering from a lack of subsidy. Surely they are suffering from not being popular enough to support themselves by putting bums on seats? Or from being more popular with those that want to play it, than with those that want to pay listen to it?……. Why is that?

I do not expect the music that I play to be subsidised, or that I am owed a living from it I just hope that it will be popular and I will continue to try my best to make it so. Most styles of music operate like that.

Maybe it is because classical music expects to be subsidised that it receives it. Even though that distribution is patchy as you demonstrate. ……Should any music be subsidised, or even expect to be subsidised and for what reasons?

If we are saying that a style of music can only exist if it is subsidised, or that it cannot compete with more popular forms, shouldn't we just accept that the music does not now speak to as many people as it used to? Rather than making the many pay (and resent), for the pleasures of the few?

I do take your point about taking people to live music events. Even if they do not think that they like the music and are not looking forward to it, they will usually enjoy it more than they think they will. Yes you are right about the inverted snobbery. With a classical music event, it is the idea that they should like it, are expected to like it and that it will be good for there soul, is probably what keeps them away? They will like it I'm sure, if you can only get them away from all that subsidised music on the BBC. *smiles*

Possibly 'proper' music is really any form of live music?

Is there not anyway something always self-defeating in hand-outs? They do not seem to make anyone happy.....