Interesting idea for an article, although the point may have been spun a bit.
I only *just* got into violins recently, and I am still having trouble appreciating it as much as I appreciate, for example, keyboard instruments (particularly piano, organ, and harpsichord). (Any suggestions / ideas?)
If I had recognized the piece as something I particularly liked, I would have stopped at least for a moment, as long as I wasn't late (very likely). And I rarely stop for anything--even street musicians (although we have few where I am, rarely ever even in large cities I've been to).
I don't like the old-school idea of music being broadcasted to me, or chosen for me. Or marketed. If I wanted to hear Joshua Bell, I would check out his CD. But I prefer recorded over live (I know, it hurts you all).
However, with all the above in mind, I checked out the video and no doubt I would have stopped for *that* just because of how out of place it was.
But if it was Argerich playing Scarlatti or Bach on a Fisher Price piano...or a Casio...I would have been stunned.
I just found out about Bell in the past week or so, and I generally step away from artists being sold to me as well, so I already have a bias against him.
I'm probably living a lie, but I like to think that, especially in the cases of the particular artists I like, much of the classical artists I like wasn't sold to listeners back in the day.
I do like the message that people are less in depth into things than they used to be. I believe it. Classical music was something I thought I wouldn't get into for decades, and if I can get into it, I think a lot more people can, as well.
"Are you kidding? The acoustics at L'Enfant are atrocious!"