Music: Louisville Raises a Crop

To most of the smaller U.S. symphony orchestras, a big-name guest soloist is a fellow who brings in a lot of money at the box office—and takes most of it away with him as he leaves the stage door. And for the Louisville Philharmonic Orchestra's money, Hollywood-priced soloists, playing the same old "boxoffice concertos" didn't advance music much anyway. So, last January, Louisville said goodbye to all that—and started saying a big hello to composers, who could be had for less.

From the money usually spent on soloists, the Philharmonic's smart Conductor Robert Whitney,...