My guest today is Thomas Gansch. This has been so far one of my favorite conversations on The Arts Salon. Thomas is an incredibly generous man, and I was humbled by his openness. This conversation was a joy to listen back to and edit, it helped me bring to words, sentiments I have for years been espousing. We touch on many topics, but I want to briefly highlight the one that is most important to me.

In talking about the classical musical industry, Thomas correctly diagnosed many of its most salient issues. The stagnation art music, like all high arts, has been experiencing since the late 70s is largely the product of an over technification of its creative class. We’ve relinquished the role of the artist to the technocrats whose competence rarely opens the possibilities of human expression. We’ve designed curricula and value systems which doesn’t encourage creative decision making. In a community where everyone talks more about mistakes than achievements, the result is the breeding of self-deprecating performers, and audiences with no emotional investment.