Why is Watching Classical Music on TV so boring?

August 28, 2006

Why is watching classical music on TV so boring? I don’t care if it’s Classic Arts Showcase or Michael Tilson Thomas or the BBC Proms DVD I have at home, I cannot watch a classical music concert on TV without falling asleep or, worse, simply losing interest … Before you make with the jokes about people falling asleep at the concerts themselves, that’s something I don’t have a problem with. I find being there much more interesting than watching it on TV. In fact, I decided after the recent Bob Dylan concert in Davidson with the two guys standing in front of me the whole time that I like classical concerts much better than rock concerts. The seats are more comfortable, you can actually see the performers, or you can close your eyes and sleep if you choose. Lately I’m more interested in doing that, anyway. Rock concerts for me are a little like football games now. I actually went to see the Panthers exhibition game last Thursday with my son. Maybe it was the bundle I dropped for parking and food (the tickets were free, at least), maybe it was the fact that I almost had a coronary by the time I climbed to my seat just under the West end scoreboard (the tickets were free, after all), maybe it was the lady beside us with her face painted and the clackers who shrieked incomprehensibly and clacked through the entire game. But I think I’d rather take the money I’d spend just on the season tickets and get a wide screen TV instead. But not for watching classical music concerts!