It is now the end of April, 2005 and despite my best intentions I have not posted anything since December of ‘04. The reason, for those of you who don’t follow the news that I post over at www.roderickrussell.com, is because I was awarded a grant by the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts which is enabling me to develop a new theater work of unusual dimensions.

The process has, naturally, been consuming virtually all of my time. Be it frantic and inspired creation of new material or frustrated pacing to and fro and long, irritated walks during those time when the creativity is not flowing, I have not been indulging in the act of essay writing for blogging purposes.

I would like, however, to take just a moment now to give you a little something. Back on December 8, 2004 I gave you an article entitled Art is Inherently Controversial in which I made passing mention of classical violinist Lara St. John, her decidedly sexy image, and the effect that this has on the classical music industry. The April 21, ‘05 issue of the Telegraph from the UK features a story about said sex appeal in the classical music industry entitled Who needs this when the classics are already bursting with sex? by Ivan Hewett. The article attempts to make the case that the classical music industry need not artificially inject sex-laced marketing ploys into the industry because, if we look at the music as it really is, we’ll discover that it is by its very nature oozing with sexuality.

No argument from me there, but as the website Beauty in Music - which the article provides a link to - shows, a little added spice sprinkled on top never fails to attract a bit more attention. While the photograph of Abigail Newman and her sackbutt doesn’t exactly make me eager for the Playboy spread, the fact that there is even such a website brings a wry smirk to the face, and I�m sure that the new package and presentation has in fact increased revenues for the industry.

On a serious note though, while we can enjoy the new so-called freshness of the classical music PR efforts - I’m in favor of lifting the cold, artificial veil under which the industry has been hiding - let’s be wary of destroying any sense of aristocratic sensuality and the beauty of intelligent eroticism � best conveyed by a balanced withholding and a slow seduction - in favor of a full-frontal Hollywoodesque show-me-what-you’ve-got porn approach. If the PR firms learn the gentle dance of seduction they will be radically more successful in emotionally hooking consumers for life than if they simply bombard us with blunt images of creative flauting.

tags: beauty in music, classical music, sackbutt, sex, telegraph uk

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 1st, 2005 at May 01, 05 | 1:17 am and is filed under Art, Featured Articles, Just Noumenon Posts, Miscellaneous, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.