Classical music fans frequently complain that avant-garde music made after Schonberg hasn't resonated with listeners and that composers create tunes for their own satisfaction, without audiences in mind.
But Italian composer Giacomo Manzoni does not think composers are to blame. He believes such complaints are the result of audiences' lack of exposure to contemporary works.
In a question-and-answer session following his recent lecture in Tokyo on the use of "text" (lyrics) in traditional and experimental music, the 70-year-old native of Milan said that both concert organizers and musicians tend to choose "safe" pieces for performances, thus depriving concertgoers of chances to hear new music.