NY Phil's Mahler's NY Digital Festival

Lincoln Center Plaza Fountain

Photo by Lisa Hirsch

I've got a promotional email from the NY Philharmonic about their Digital Festival Mahler's NY, which runs April 16-30. Oh, boy, does it look to me like a missed opportunity.

It's not that there's anything wrong with what the Phil is going to make available, which includes performances of Kindertotenlieder, at least some of the symphonies, Lenny B. discussing Mahler, and, on the fun side, a digital walking tour of New York City in 1911 and 1911 recipes.

It's what doesn't seem to be included, but maybe I'm premature:

• A look at other classical composers then active in NYC, especially American composers. 
• A look at composers in other styles, especially ragtime, early jazz, Tin Pan Alley.
• A look at the popular music of the era.
• A look at the music of NY's many immigrant populations.

It's not as though we're lacking in performances of Mahler's works, whether live or studio, or knowledge about him. It would be great if the NY Philharmonic got its nose outside Avery Fi er David Geffen Hall and looked around a bit.