As a symphony subscriber, I agree with your opinion of Thierry Fischer and the high expectations that he brings with him. I would like to see much more varied programming as well. It is just possible that such a change, along with renewed energy in performances and interpretations, might maintain and greatly expand the subscriber and audience base. It's worth a try, but I still think it will be a difficult sell overall.

While I agree that the Utah Symphony's national and international presence has subsided, Keith Lockhart's somewhat lackluster directorship (a truly restrospective argument) was not entirely at fault.

He did attempt to have the symphony again make recordings in a difficult recording climate (exorbitant production costs), but the 2004 deal with Dorian records for five CDs (only one releasd) ended with that label's bankruptcy.

And while he only took the symphony on tour once, to Europe in 2005, such trips are cost prohibitive for the foreseeable future with the economic climate and the symphony's finances. There is hope with live recordings (of truly distinctive repertoire--Ramette, Martinon?) to greatly reduce costs, and made and distributed by Hyperion, Fischer's main record company.