Opera is expensive: that much is inevitable.1 But expensive things are not inevitably the province of the rich unless we abdicate society’s power of choice. 2 We can choose to make opera, and other expensive forms of culture, accessible to those who cannot individually pay for it. 3 The question is: why should we? Nobody denies the imperatives of food, shelter, defense, health and education. 4 But even in a prehistoric cave, mankind stretched out a hand not just to eat, drink or fight, but also to draw. 5 The impulse towards culture, the desire to express and explore the world through imagination and representation is fundamental. 6 In Europe, this desire has found fulfillment in the masterpieces of our music, art, literature and theatre. These masterpieces are the touchstones7 for all our efforts; they are the touchstones for the possibilities to which human thought and imagination may aspire; they carry the most profound messages that can be sent from one human to another.8 +4 3~4_Oj
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【参考译文】 @^DVA}*b)
聆听歌剧，无疑昂贵至极。但是，昂贵的东西并不是非富人莫属，除非我们放弃社会的选择权。我们可以做出选择，使歌剧和其他形式的高消费文化也能让那些作为个体消费不起的人们所享受。但问题是，有必要这么做吗？食物、居所、防护、健康与教育缺一不可，这一点人人认可。即便史前，住在洞穴中的人类伸出手来，不仅为了吃饭、喝水或搏杀，也为了作画。对于文化的冲动，对于通过形象思维和再现手段来表达并探索世界的欲望，这是人的本性。在欧洲，这一欲望反映在音乐、绘画、文学和戏剧之类的艺术杰作之中。这些杰作是我们全部成果的试金石，是人类思想和想象力可及程度的试金石。它们承载着最深刻的信息，使之在人类成员之间传播。
