THE CONCERT: RITUAL, FORMAT AND ECONOMICS

Abstract

An analysis of the classical music audience in the last fifteen years throughout the world shows the following tendency – the market is becoming older and smaller. The concert itself is losing importance as an aesthetic and social institution. What influences the decision to attend a concert? Why do we choose classical music less often? Taking a closer look at the history of concert life, it is clear that this tendency could be avoided by different performance formats. These should integrate aspects of historical, dramaturgical, pedagogical, aesthetic and management thinking. I would like to develop practical knowledge for future concert models. Usually music management tries to improve the situation through scholastic concerts (school, children, youth) and marketing tools (attracting new target groups). I believe that the concert format should be changed in order to preserve it. The tendencies in the recent years show that the crisis in classical and modern music is due to the culture of the performance, not music itself.