By Robert D. Thomas
Music Critic
Pasadena Star-News/San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Whittier Daily News
Usually about this time of the year people ask me what gifts they should get for their classical music-loving friends. While there are plenty of books and recordings that are available, my No. 1 suggestion each year is the gift of music through tickets. There are three reasons for this idea.
First, nearly all of us have no need for more “stuff,” no matter how important those books, recordings, ties, shirts or other things might be. That doesn’t mean that if someone gives me an iPad for Christmas this year I’ll turn it down, but my world really won’t come to an end if I don’t have one.
Second, nearly all of us need to put more music into our lives. I don’t mean the music itself, important as that is. Rather, I mean the sheer pleasure of attending a concert (opera, recital, play, etc.) in person. Attending creates a three-hour (or more) break in a busy schedule,; it’s a chance to sit back and just absorb sheer beauty and revel in the experience of simply being without staring at a computer screen, answering a phone or meeting for some reason. Despite the fact that I retired from my professional career three years ago, my days seem to be as busy as they ever were. Attending concerts offers me a much-need respite from that whirlwind.
That’s one reason I love the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s 11 a.m. Friday morning concerts — they’re a break in my daily routine. Years ago, I felt like the orchestra sometimes didn’t play as well for these concerts as for evening programs but that seems to have changed. Another advantage is that it’s easier to take the Metro to morning/afternoon concerts than it is to evening events. For me, it’s Red Line to Pershing Square station, Angels Flight up the hill, and a pleasant stroll on a sun-swept day across the Watercourt Plaza, past MOCA and Colburn and into Disney Hall. We don’t stroll enough in our busy lives.
My third reason for giving tickets is that all arts organizations need our support. Even though ticket sales don’t cover all the costs, ticket revenue is a significant part of every group’s income stream. Moreover, as a performer I know that playing before a full house (or at least fuller) is a lot more fun and stimulating than looking out and seeing empty seats.
So give the gift of tickets this year. One of the nice parts of this idea is that tickets come in all price ranges, from free on up. However, please remember that if you’re going to give a gift to a free concert — and there are excellent no-admission concerts nearly ever week, as my weekly “Five Spot” posts inform you — no concert is truly free; there are always costs involved, so donations of any size are always welcome and encouraged by presenting groups.
How do you give tickets? One way is to decide on a program ahead of time, buy the tickets and give them. Another is giving the cash value of the tickets with a note as to the reason for the monetary gift. The L.A. Phil even offers a gift card (LINK), if that’s more preferable to cold cash.
Oh, and by the way, give yourself tickets this year, as well.
Merry Christmas to you all! Thanks for being loyal readers.
(c) Copyright 2011, Robert D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Portions may be quoted with attribution.
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