CONCERT BROADCASTS

posted by James Reel

    I often wonder if anybody listens to the concert programs we broadcast at 8 p.m.; it seems that most people are spending their evenings out, or watching TV, or reading, or anything but listening to the radio. But here's a comment I got today from a former Tucsonan now living in California who listens to us on the Internet:

    Don't get to many live concerts as I work nights and don't expect that to change. But I very much enjoy listening to the live concerts on KUAT as it keeps me up to date on what is actually being performed rather than issued on recordings. And KUAT has a very clean signal. Some of the stuff on the Net is really crappy.
    I like the spontaneity of the live performances, warts, background noise, and all. There was a wonderful moment with the Pittsburgh (I think it was) a few years ago doing the Beethoven Triple Concerto and Yo-Yo Ma fell backward off his little riser. Luckily, someone caught him but it was quite noisy and that kind of thing would never appear on disc. It's like the Navajos leaving an error in a fine rug.