What good does classical music do us in the modern world? At the Utah Opera’s 40th Anniversary gala with Renee Fleming last week, materials in the program and a video about the Opera’s visits to public schools presented several theories on what we get out of keeping classical music alive.
But most of the theories didn’t resonate with me. I’ve spent my whole life in the classical music world. I grew up backstage at the Metropolitan Opera where my mother sang. I attended Juilliard as a pianist. And now I’m a “stage mom” to three daughters who practice hours a day on string instruments.