culture
February 11, 2026
Snippets? Apps? Visuals? Why classical music should stop trying to be pop
Classical music’s blessing is also its curse: you’ve simply got to pay it attention. Plus: No wonder Rossini was an Olympics hit – he invented disco
TL;DR
- Classical music faces a perennial struggle for relevance due to underfunding, technological pressures, and a cultural shift towards shorter attention spans.
- The demand for unmediated attention and time makes classical music seem ill-suited for the current media landscape dominated by playlists and short-form content.
- Attempts to make classical music more accessible by adopting pop formats like short excerpts, apps, and visuals can be patronizing.
- Opportunities for classical music lie in innovative projects such as Barokksolistene's Alehouse Sessions, Britten Sinfonia's Surround Sound Playlist events, and Classical Mondays at Ronnie Scott's.
- The essence of experiencing classical music, like all music, requires dedicated time and attention from the listener.
- Rossini's music was featured in an unconventional way at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, highlighting its enduring appeal and potential for cross-genre connection.
- Gustav Holst's 'Beni Mora' is cited as an early example of repetitive musical structures, predating later minimalist composers.
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