Hooray for Downloads!

Internet broadcast of Philharmonia a success

Just recently, we reported about the special event organised by the Philharmonia Orchestra: A full webcast of one of their concerts conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen and featuring music by Wagner, Strauss and Beethoven, was streamed to viewers and listeners on each and every continent on April 23rd. Some of users couldn't log in, others had problems with using the system, but overall the affair seems to have worked almost flawlessly. Now, the project could well be a future source of revenues: Tracks from the night, in better sound quality than the stream, are being sold at 1 Pound a piece and with three pounds the price for the whole performance, things look very attractive indeed. The whole first half of the concert can still be watched for free and after witnessing more than an hour's worth of music, we tend to share the enthusiasm of the organisors and spectators. The slogan "Classical Music - cutting edge? You better believe it" therefore doesn't seem too much out of place.

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