• Surveys the structure, roots, and day-to-day functioning of the modern philharmonic society
• Disputes prevalent notions of the death of the orchestra
• Argues for the centrality of the symphony orchestra in cultural diplomacy and civic pride
• Welcomes new media for the consumption of orchestral music
• Updates orchestral history with accounts of recent strikes and bankruptcies on the one hand, and the conspicious success of several massive new concert halls, on the other

  
In this Very Short Introduction, D. Kern Holoman considers the structure, roots, and day-to-day functioning of the modern philharmonic society. He explores topics ranging from the life of a musician in a modern orchestra, the recent wave of new hall construction from Berlin to Birmingham, threats of bankruptcies and strikes, and the eyebrow-raising salaries of conductors and general managers. At the heart of the book lies a troubling pair of questions: Can such a seemingly anachronistic organization long survive? Does the symphony matter in contemporary culture? Holoman responds to both with a resounding yes. He shows that the orchestra remains a potent political and social force, a cultural diplomat par excellence. It has adapted well to the digital revolution, and it continues to be seen as an essential element of civic pride. In a time of upheaval in how classical music is created, heard, distributed, and evaluated, the orchestra has managed to retain its historic role as a meeting place of intellectual currents, an ongoing forum for public enlightenment.