Classical charms

Apparently there are no young gang leaders afoot with a weakness for Beethoven, thank goodness, the scenario of a certain Anthony Burgess satire notwithstanding [“Halt, or I’ll Play Vivaldi,” Feb. 13].

But as someone who came to his interest in classical music in his early teens and not by a highbrow route, I fail to understand why people who climb mountains, hike forests and raft rivers cannot “get” the symphonies of Mahler and Bruckner. And why aren’t more of the Armageddon-obsessed fundamentalists familiar with the final movements of Mahler’s 2nd and Bruckner’s 8th symphonies?

Anthony Probst

Long Beach