It is not good enough for an orchestra just to turn up and play and expect the audience to enjoy it, says David Le Page. Working with a theatre director on the physical aspects of performance could help draw a more diverse audience.
For some time, the professional orchestra has battled for survival. Not only does it make no financial sense, it is more often than not perceived as an elitist pastime, with the musicians lucky to enjoy such a ‘hobby’. Orchestras are increasingly required to justify their existence and prove that they are essential to the communities in which they live. Now in the era of COVID-19, these problems have magnified. Many freelance musicians are out of work, barely able to make a living at present. There was a brief month of excitement when concerts could return with restricted audiences, but as of this week venues have to close their doors again.
During lockdown, orchestras fumbled around in the darkness trying to be heard and seen online competing with the myriad offerings on YouTube, Netflix, Prime and more. When they did make it onto a social media platform, did they begin to look like an anachronym, unable and reluctant to adapt to the full potential of the multi-media age?
This is more than a crisis of identity... Keep reading on The Strad
For some time, the professional orchestra has battled for survival. Not only does it make no financial sense, it is more often than not perceived as an elitist pastime, with the musicians lucky to enjoy such a ‘hobby’. Orchestras are increasingly required to justify their existence and prove that they are essential to the communities in which they live. Now in the era of COVID-19, these problems have magnified. Many freelance musicians are out of work, barely able to make a living at present. There was a brief month of excitement when concerts could return with restricted audiences, but as of this week venues have to close their doors again.
During lockdown, orchestras fumbled around in the darkness trying to be heard and seen online competing with the myriad offerings on YouTube, Netflix, Prime and more. When they did make it onto a social media platform, did they begin to look like an anachronym, unable and reluctant to adapt to the full potential of the multi-media age?
This is more than a crisis of identity... Keep reading on The Strad