Total lack of coverage!

While the press in Spokane seems interested in the NCO (see below), it seemed like time to observe the deafening silence in our hometown press here in Nashville in the wake of the Gypsy Nights concert two weeks ago. Neither our daily paper The Tennessean nor our weekly, The Nashville Scene, reviewed or followed up in any way on that show, which as I said, with as much objectivity as I can muster, was a phenomenal night of music with three great soloists and two world premieres. Both papers ran preview items but they focused on the high profile of Bernadette Peters who sang on Saturday night, proving that even among our ostensibly sophisticated music critics in town, celebrity is more alluring than innovation. Neither offered any follow-up, and I just don't think that's justifiable. I know Paul and Connie have struggled with this for years because I used to be a music critic at the Tennessean and when our classical music critic failed to write about the NCO's concerts routinely, they would inquire with us pop and country guys about whether maybe, perhaps, they might get a bit of ink in their Music City hometown press. There are several issues at play here, but the biggest is that Music-In-Boxes thing that the NCO wants to overcome. The classical critic can look at the NCO and, because it does some crossover work with pop musicians, say 'that's not my beat.' The pop critic can say 'Hey it's a chamber orchestra. They play Brahms. That's not MY beat.' What we're looking for here is a little bit of music commentary without boundaries. Not glowing reviews. Just respect and honest analysis. Were any of you music writers at Gypsy Nights? Did you know about it? Were you aware that one of the founders of the Turtle Island String Quartet was premiering a new work? Is that not news in Music City?

Okay enough from me. What do you think? Don't just tell us. Tell the newspapers. Here are the folks you should write to:

Nashville Scene - TRACY MOORE, Music Editor
Nashville Scene - JOHN PITCHER, Classical music writer

(If those links don't work, go HERE and select the names from the dropdown list to send a message)

The Tennessean - LINDA ZETTLER, Entertainment Editor: lzettler@tennessean.com
The Tennessean - JONATHAN MARX, Music Writer: jamarx@tennessean.com