Going to the Pittsburgh Symphony ‘is like a colonoscopy’

Violinist Chris Wu has retired from the orchestra after 36 years.

In a parting interview with the Post-Gazette, he makes caustic comments about life in the orchestra, where the classical audience uptake is running around 50percent.

Unfortunately, the headlines are all we can see online:

Retiring symphony violinist compares classical music to a ‘colonoscopy,’ prescribes personal touch
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Chris Wu played violin in the Pittsburgh Symphony for 36 years. He has thoughts on the organization’s future.

UPDATE:
Here’s a longer section:

You don’t think classical music is approachable on its own merits?
These days, I think most people imagine sitting through a classical music concert like a colonoscopy and a root canal.
It’s something that they should do, but nobody wants to go sit still for that long for something they think they won’t enjoy. But if they took the time to actually go with people that have been to it before, they might realize their preconceptions were unfounded.
So all it takes is a personal introduction?
Death and taxes affect everyone — music also affects everyone, no matter where you are in life. At the symphony, we play music that has lasted for centuries. I think there’s a reason so many people still appreciate this music.
That said, culture is always shifting. Everyone is into TikTok now, but 15 years ago it was MySpace. So maybe we need to be open to reimagining the presentation of this music we love, not the music itself.
So what’s next for you?
I’ll be working on ways to bring music to mental health patients. We know anxiety and depression have gotten worse in this country and that pills aren’t the answer for a lot individuals’ situations. Maybe there are some holistic ways that we as musicians can be a part of the solution.