MISSING IN ACTION

posted by James Reel

    No review of last night’s Tucson Symphony concert from me today. I didn’t go, and I don’t usually write reviews of events I don’t attend. Imagine that.
    This is the second TSO concert I’ve missed this season, and I must say that I don’t agonize anymore over not showing up. Not that there’s anything inherently expendable about the orchestra; to the contrary. But now, if I have too much other work to do (as I did last night), I can give my tickets away or send my wife off with a substitute chaperone without the least regret. And I’ve even taken to leaving Arizona Friends of Chamber Music concerts at intermission so I can get to bed at an hour that’s reasonable for someone who whose alarm goes off at 3:55 a.m. No guilt there, either.
    It wasn’t always thus. First, there was the issue of wasted money; I paid for the concert experience, and I was determined to show up and stick it out to the end of the program, no matter what. (I also felt cheated when I didn’t get what I felt was my two hours’ worth of entertainment if the difficulty of the music or lack of rehearsal time resulted in a short program.) But I also felt there was an implied pact between the performers and me as an audience member. They (presumably) worked hard to prepare the concert, they showed up, and they (presumably) performed as well as they could to the very last note. I, in turn, owed them my presence and close attention the whole time they were on stage. Unlike some people, I was never arrogant enough to stride indignantly out of the auditorium between (or during!) pieces if I didn’t like what I was hearing, because things might always improve, and often did.
    Of course, the musicians don’t really care whether it’s my butt or somebody else’s in the seat. So as long as I give my ticket to someone instead of creating a disheartening gap in the row, I’m still fulfilling my obligations to the performers. And that leaves me free to stay home and fulfill my obligations to editors who do care what seat my butt is in—the one at my computer.
    Still, I’m beginning to think that I’m giving up the wrong things—concerts, pleasure reading, hiking, strict schedules of exercise and cello practice, good movies. If I were to simplify my life further, I’d be seriously tempted to reduce my workload (and income) and indulge in life-enriching nonsense.