Natricia Duncan questions the “civilising” status awarded to classical music.
The sight of all-white orchestras or those with the conciliatory single black player has been the centre of many debates about whether the European classical establishment has sufficiently evolved to survive in the contemporary and diverse society that exists today.
A culture piece in The Guardian in 2008 questioned: “Why are our orchestras so white?” and this month the arrival of an all-black orchestra created a stir akin to that of the coming of a long-awaited saviour.
A press release earlier this year on the Arts Council website announced proudly: “The world’s first all-black orchestra visits the UK for the first time... Keep reading on The Voice
The sight of all-white orchestras or those with the conciliatory single black player has been the centre of many debates about whether the European classical establishment has sufficiently evolved to survive in the contemporary and diverse society that exists today.
A culture piece in The Guardian in 2008 questioned: “Why are our orchestras so white?” and this month the arrival of an all-black orchestra created a stir akin to that of the coming of a long-awaited saviour.
A press release earlier this year on the Arts Council website announced proudly: “The world’s first all-black orchestra visits the UK for the first time... Keep reading on The Voice