ECM isn’t falling back on the tried-and-true, under the assumption that a new listener is an unadventurous, easily frightened-off listener. Instead, they’re betting that the tried-and-true could be precisely one of the barriers to sparking interest that classical-music organizations need to overcome.
ECM is a space where art and audience collide. Not only do attendees socialize, but performers also make it a point to talk with the audience, tell stories and connect in a way that makes the musical experience very powerful and interconnected, and very human.