Is classical music still relevant? It's a question I hear often, and one that deserves more than a simple yes or no. My answer is yes. Absolutely. But perhaps not in the same way it was two hundred years ago. Classical music itself has not become less valuable. The world around it has changed.
When Beethoven was composing his symphonies, there were few ways to experience great music. A concert was one of the defining cultural events of a community. Today, we live in a world of unlimited entertainment. Movies, streaming services, podcasts, social media, sports, gaming, and millions of songs are available instantly on a device that fits in our pocket. We have access to more music than at any other point in human history.
