Exploring the Meaning Behind the Music
A dynamic and innovative addition to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s core programming, the CSO’s new Sunday afternoon Beyond the Score series is a departure from the CSO’s traditional subscription concert format, inviting listeners to take an in-depth, multi-media look at a single orchestral masterwork.
Designed not only for classical music aficionados, but also for newcomers looking to dive deeper into the world of classical music, the first half of each Beyond the Score event has been compared to an engaging “live documentary,” with series narrator Gerard McBurney using slides, video, film clips, and narration to examine the afternoon’s musical selection—its context in history, how it fits into the composer’s output of works, the details of a composer’s life that influenced its creation—sharing the illuminating stories found “inside” the music. Live musical examples by the Orchestra are also central to highlighting the featured work on the program. After an intermission, concertgoers return to the hall with newly discovered knowledge to hear a performance of the score, played in its entirety by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
The first two Beyond the Score programs were both a smashing success from the standpoint of audience and critics. Patrons were excited by the opportunity to explore these great masterworks, and they were impressed by the innovative, multi-media format of the presentation. Word of mouth was an important part of the launch and promotion of this new series. Sales for the second concert were nearly double that of the first, and a full house is projected for the final concert in May 2006. Music critics had high praise for the Beyond the Score programs, as well. The Chicago Tribune said, “With ‘Beyond the Score,’ the CSO has created common ground on which newbies and seasoned concertgoers can meet, learn and be entertained,” and the Chicago Sun-Times said, “The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has a winner in ‘Beyond the Score….’” CSO musicians have also been enthusiastic about these concerts, offering feedback and suggestions for next season and extending their endorsement to students and friends who might be interested in attending future BTS events.
What the CSO has learned:
In establishing this new series, the CSO has learned that there is a large and engaged audience for quality programs that draw patrons inside the music, telling the fascinating stories of composers’ work and lives. They also experienced a great sense of community in the concert hall, with its core audience of classical music aficionados enjoying these programs as much as the new concertgoers, including a large number of students who attended the performances as an introduction to classical music. Finally, while a great deal of research, creative work, and people resources were invested in creating concerts that would only be one-time-only events, the resulting scripts and visual materials easily lend themselves to either encore performances by the CSO or presentations by other orchestras.
More Info:
www.cso.org/beyondthescore
Synneve Carlino / Public Relations
E-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it