From the classes to the masses

Most symphony orchestras in China are being pushed to fend for themselves in the market, and this could well be a blessing in disguise.

Take a look at a typical audience at a classical music concert in Asia and in Europe, and you will instantly see the difference. In Asia, the average age is around 30, while in Europe it is twice as much.

This could be an apt analogy for something bigger, say, the economy. But like the economic comparison, the prospects for classical music in the developing and developed worlds are not as black and white as they seem.