The surge in availability of arts and cultural events online is the greatest advance in the democratisation of culture the world has ever seen. But it would be wrong to regard it as purely good, argues Ivan Hewett.
The small things in life often come to us. When it involves big things, we have to go to them. Take the performing arts. They’re expensive, they’re complex, they take time. We have to wait until they’re ready to receive us, and make sure we turn up at the appointed time. Saying “I want it now” is just silly; only emperors and kings could do that. For them, the bard or Royal Chapel or court theatre was always standing by, waiting for their good pleasure. All it took was a wave of the royal hand, and the music or play would burst into life.
Well, we are all emperors now, thanks to the recent explosion in online arts provision. The signal that conjures this magic is less regally stylish – a click of the mouse, rather than a languid hand. But the effects of that click exceed anything even the greatest potentate of old could conjure up. You want to see that recent performance of Schumann’s Second Symphony from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle? Just log on to the orchestra’s Digital Concert Hall, and it can be yours at very little cost... Keep reading on The Telegraph
The small things in life often come to us. When it involves big things, we have to go to them. Take the performing arts. They’re expensive, they’re complex, they take time. We have to wait until they’re ready to receive us, and make sure we turn up at the appointed time. Saying “I want it now” is just silly; only emperors and kings could do that. For them, the bard or Royal Chapel or court theatre was always standing by, waiting for their good pleasure. All it took was a wave of the royal hand, and the music or play would burst into life.
Well, we are all emperors now, thanks to the recent explosion in online arts provision. The signal that conjures this magic is less regally stylish – a click of the mouse, rather than a languid hand. But the effects of that click exceed anything even the greatest potentate of old could conjure up. You want to see that recent performance of Schumann’s Second Symphony from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle? Just log on to the orchestra’s Digital Concert Hall, and it can be yours at very little cost... Keep reading on The Telegraph