Here is something that bugs me:

I read that artist Frank Stella and architects Frank Gehry and David Rockwell have recently designed band shells. A band shell is a contraption that hangs above the stage and is supposed to focus and project the sound of the acoustic, unamplified orchestra instruments into the audience. Stella said in an interview that since all performances are electronically enhanced today you don’t have to worry about acoustics. In other words, the band shell is becoming a very expensive, and rather useless piece of art instead of being an integral part of the music……

Hm, why have an orchestra play at all? Maybe they should just play a recording and do away with the uncertainty of a live performance……