There was a time when the audience for classical music preferred – nay, demanded – that the genre be presented as a dressed-up affair, all formality and glamour, and that those in attendance listen “not only with their senses, but their soul.” These days, most classical presenters are considerably less picky – as long as there are butts in the seats, who cares what they’re wearing or if they squirm a bit? Amanda Holloway suggests that, in a world of seemingly endless entertainment options, catering to supposedly modern tastes just isn’t ever going to bring new audiences to the concert hall, and neither is reminding them constantly that culture is good for them. “No clever direct-mailing approach from an arts centre can replace… personal motivation.”