The 8pm Conundrum

Why are symphony orchestras in so many cities bound and determined to start every evening concert at 8pm? Doesn’t the reality of modern life suggest that concertgoers might want a range of options as to start time? Late-night concerts have been a major success at the Mostly Mozart Festival in New York, and early start times have been embraced in some other cities. “The bigger challenge is finding ways for music lovers to fit a concert or opera into a workday with time to spare for dinner.”