Candlelit night out for the internet age

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This article was published 04/09/2024 (743 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

You’ve probably seen the Candlelight Concert advertisements on social media: chamber musicians surrounded by flickering candles playing pop music in a grand hall.

It’s a concert format designed for the internet age, with esthetic novelty and selfie opportunities built into the program.

Turns out, it’s also an accessible entrypoint into Winnipeg’s classical music scene.

The first Candlelight Concert was hosted in Madrid in 2014 and has since become a global phenomenon with shows in more than 100 cities. Fever, a live entertainment discovery platform, brought the concept to Winnipeg in 2022 and regularly hosts events at the Fort Garry Hotel, Crescent Arts Centre and Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq.

“The mission is really to democratize access to classical music and bring classical music to a new demographic, outside of traditional concert halls and into more unexpected, intimate locations,” says Andrew Bryan, team lead for Candlelight Concerts in Canada.

At first, Fever presented “hardcore classical programs,” such as Vivaldi, Chopin and Beethoven.

Instrumental pop music became the focus after experimenting with a show called From Bach to the Beatles.

“That’s how we found out that there was a huge appetite for pop music,” Bryan says.

On Friday, WAG-Qaumajuq’s Muriel Richardson Auditorium was filled with thousands of battery-operated candles and a setlist of Coldplay hits reworked for a string quartet.

Fever aims to hire local musicians in the cities in which it operates. Friday’s performers included Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra members Élise Lavallée (viola), Elation Pauls (violin), Chris Anstey (violin) and Samuel Nadurak (cello).

Hearing songs such as Yellow, The Scientist and Fix You presented as ethereal string arrangements is a nice experience. Even better is getting to meet some of the city’s top classical musicians in a casual, conversational setting.

Each musician took turns introducing songs and chatting about their connections to the source material (Lavallée is a big fan of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin’s accent, for example).

There was some minor musical education, but the tight 60-minute concert was more about fostering approachability. The show closed with hoots and hollers befitting a rock concert.

According to Bryan, the average Candlelight concertgoer is between 20 and 40 years old and for many it’s their first time attending a live classical music event.

“Classical music can be kind of restrictive in the way people access it,” Bryan says. “It can be expensive … sometimes people don’t know what to wear or they don’t necessarily see themselves represented in a traditional concert hall setting.”

Tickets for Candlelight shows range from roughly $30 to $60, depending on the event and distance from the stage. It’s rush seating and the venues open 45 minutes ahead of shows. There’s a bar on site.

On Friday, audience attire was a mix of casual and fancy dress. There are opportunities to take flash-free photos and videos during the final songs and event staff are on hand to assist with candlelit selfies prior to performances.

A note about the candles: Concerts are illuminated by between 2,500 and 4,000 LED candles based on the venue. Battery use is a hot topic of conversation internally, says Bryan, adding Fever participates in a recycling program and staff are trained to extend the battery life of the candles as much as possible.

Candlelight shows also offer an opportunity to bring new people into some of Winnipeg’s arts and culture institutions. WAG-Quamajuq has been hosting the well-attended events monthly for the last two years.

“At the time, it was something different that was new to the city,” says Katryna Barske, public relations officer for the gallery. “And it’s been a really fun introduction to (get people) into the doors and knowing where we are and some of the other things we’re offering.”

Fever often presents two back-to-back Candlelight shows per evening. Upcoming events include tributes to Taylor Swift, Adele and ABBA, as well as a Halloween-themed show at the Fort Garry featuring a mix of creepy classical tunes and modern favourites, such as Danny Elfman’s Beetlejuice theme song.

The company has also introduced a new series of ambient flamenco and ballet dance events. Visit feverup.com for more information.

eva.wasney@winnipegfreepress.com

X: @evawasney