A bit of good news about classical music in the U.S.

Only one major symphony orchestra is bucking the trend: the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The BSO is also the only major American Symphony Orchestra led by a woman, Marin Alsop, but that may be a coincidence. ;-) I 've read that the BSO is attracting more concertgoers and getting more grants and donations. I have just learned that truth in a personal way. I bought tickets to a BSO concert series months ago, when they first became available and the prices were at their lowest. I recently developed a schedule conflict for one performance, so I looked up the rules and found that I could exchange my ticket for a ticket to another BSO concert. Because I had ordered series tickets at the beginning of the concert season, I got a very good price: $30 for the cheapest seat in the house. The first concert I chose as a potential substitute was completely sold out. My second choice concert was sold out except for two seats at $47 each. The one remaining concert had about 35 seats available at $47 each. I considered the sorry state of my budget and decided not to go to any of these concerts. Nevertheless, I felt happy that one good, major symphony orchestra in this country is thriving, and I can hear it live. Yay!!!!!