When is early early enough ?

Does the prospect of hearing Pollini playing Mozart K 488 and Schoenberg Piano Concerto under James Levine and the Boston Symphony Orchestra sounds good to you ? It certainly does to me and it is good to read that both artists are announced in this program for March 26 in Carnegie Hall.

Do not jump in a plane or the Metro, we have to wait somewhat. This is due for 2011 and not 2010.

January 2010 is not even over that Carnegie Hall has already announced its 2010 - 2011 season. They are not alone in such pre-announcement. It has been possible for a while to book tickets for Sir Simon Rattle's 2011 London concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic.

There could be some good reasons for these early announcements:

- First, if you are a die-hard of some of these artists, you will block out already some dates in your agenda. Carnegie Hall competes with the Met, the Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall and many other venues. This is equivalent to Apple's deciding that they have enough material to present to the general audience a product not totally finished but enough so as to build anticipation and black competition.

- Second, this is good for the cash-flow of these halls. It allows for some money to come in early which helps financing the tours, get some interest incomes, reduces working capital needs  ...

But honestly, March 2011, this sounds so far away ...

PS: Carnegie season looks pretty good, as always.