Composing Capital
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The familiar old world of classical music, with its wealthy donors and ornate concert halls, is changing. The patronage of a wealthy few is now being replaced by that of corporations, leading to new unions of classical music and contemporary capitalism. In Composing Capital, Marianna Ritchey lays bare the appropriation of classical music by the current neoliberal regime. Artists, critics, and institutions have aligned themselves--and, by extension, classical music itself--with free-market ideology. More specifically, Ritchey is interested in how classical music has lent its cachet to marketing schemes, sponsored performances for tech firns, and global corporate partnerships. As Ritchey shows, the neoliberalization of classical music has put music at the service of contemporary capitalism, blurring the line between creativity and entrepreneurship, and challenging us to imagine how a non-commodified musical practice might be possible in today's world.
Marianna Ritchey is assistant professor of music history at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.