During the week, classical music conversations naturally shifted from Gustavo Dudamel's Mahler Project to professional basketball star Jeremy Lin's overnight emergence as the most popular person on the planet.
Both performance artists have rejuvenated their local, national and global communities, immediately along its length and breadth in the case of Lin, and increasingly so in the case of Dudamel.
Both men are all about teamwork.
Lin joined the starting line-up for a team that had a disparate collection of journeymen and superstars but needed someone to make them coalesce behind a common goal, then dazzle and shine.
With Gustavo it was the same way; he's a great team player who literally places himself at the disposal of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Deborah Borda's corporate team. Their success indicates that there is pent-up energy in the cultural economy.
It's exactly what's happened overnight (really overnight) with Jeremy Lin. In a week, his wild charismatic presence and competitive intensity has signaled the existence of vast reserves of pent-up energy even in the sports economy.
Interest in both men has raised morale on local, regional, national and global levels. At a time when disaster looms and depression rules, the sudden emergence of Lin and Dudamel, who defy the gods with daring and luck, comes over as an unambiguous message booster that when we try to be our best, we succeed just by trying.
There are differences, of course. On the playing field, at least, there is no real risk to Gustavo. When Jeremy Lin plays, physical and artistic tragedy can strike on any night. The insular world of the Philharmonic admits of no such unpredictability.
There's also the bottom line: One way or another somebody's making a lot of money on both of these dudes, and in the case of Gustavo I hope it's more than just trickling down.
Wikimedia Commons/LA Philharmonic
Perhaps it's time for a competitive league of orchestras along the lines of the NBA. The League of American Orchestras, which holds its annual meetings in Dallas in June, which could provide the aegis for such an enterprise. Such a league's possible four divisions (in order of projected finish):
Atlantic: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Montreal, New Jersey, Baltimore, Washington, Miami
Central: Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Buffalo
Midwest: Chicago, Minnesota (Minneapolis), Houston, Toronto, Dallas, Saint Paul, Saint Louis, Columbus
Pacific: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Vancouver, Denver, San Diego
Revenues would skyrocket and classical music would serve the best purpose it can have: To provide for the soul.
The problem with this scenario is that orchestras are not-for profit-institutions. Participation in organized leagues would endanger their tax exempt status and, with that status, their exclusive access to their city's best venue (unless they owned it themselves).
The good news is that, sooner or later, an autocrat is bound to discover that it is possible to buy a major orchestra in order to convert it into a legitimate business. Jeremy Lin, depending on his musical tastes, could buy an orchestra and face the LA Phil and Gustavo on the playing field.
In fact, such a scenario is already scheduled for Disney Hall on May 9 and 10, when the New York Phil (conducted by its own wonderboy music director Alan Gilbert) and LA Phil (conducted by Gustavo) will play on successive nights in Disney Hall.
And if Gilbert has any intentions of bringing Lin to town along with the NY Phil to create a buzz, LA has Blake Griffin ready to show Gustavo how to catapult onto the conductor's podium as if it were a slam dunk contest. Just imagine, classical music could be hitting the big time.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.