Programming

A parallel issue is faced in programming. Usually, programming is quite conservative in China. Yet those who perform often in China come to realize that concertgoers in the city tend to be more open-minded in approaching unfamiliar works, and that there exists a passionate undercurrent of interest --some would say thirst-- to attend concerts of quality and significance.

Yet, the very term "audience" can be broadly interpreted with classical music concerts in China -- possibly encompassing a ticket-paying public, invited guests who are given tickets, members of the government bodies overseeing the performing organization, other musicians, and, indeed, a public sometimes not even in attendance but hearing about an event through media channels. Such a mix of priorities may be one reason that true outreach remains to be fully realized.