When one thinks of the symphony, tradition comes to mind – the third Thursday of the month at 8 p.m., as it had been here in Eugene for decades. But tradition alone won’t sustain us.
As one patron recently criticized in my inbox, a note compelling enough to inspire this guest column: “Trimming the core series from 9 to 8 feels like a flat note in an otherwise major key. Pops programs have their place, but lean too far and the symphony becomes a jukebox, not a jewel box. Please, don’t trade Beethoven for Broadway. We need bold repertoire, not just crowd-pleasers.”
I hear that. The Eugene Symphony’s identity has been built on bold repertoire and artistic depth, and that identity is not going away. But as we shape the symphony’s next chapter, we are making thoughtful adjustments, not to let go of our legacy, but to ensure its relevance and resilience for the future…