There’s a lot at stake with the failure of the Philly Pops beyond the silencing of Sondheim, rock nostalgia acts, soul and patriotic tunes.
It also should raise questions about funding, hiring and confidence in cultural institutions like the Pops.is a good lifeline, but it’s not the ongoing, dedicated funding source needed to sustain one of the region’s major quality-of-life assets.chance to change a system of recruiting, screening and auditioning players that has excluded Black musicians from the Pops and other ensembles all these years.
The demise of the Pops should not be allowed to define a new era of diminished dreaming. A night with Peter Nero might not have always been your thing. But it was for hundreds of thousands of others over the years. Without a pops orchestra, the city would be less vital and indisputably incomplete. It’s up to the collective us to make sure that doesn’t happen.Early notice to arts groups
Sad someone died. But people are more likely to die in a car crash or mugging than covid. So also they should stop driving and stay out of the city.