Concert attendance is at the heart of keeping classical music alive. Darren Henley previews a forthcoming event designed to tackle concert presentation.
?How can orchestras remain relevant to new and younger audiences in an increasingly visual world, whilst not alienating their traditional audience?? This is a question that will receive a thorough airing at the Association of British Orchestras conference next month. The emphasis this year will be on concert presentation. Theatre producer and director Lou Stein will lead discussions asking delegates to consider the different initiatives that can be used to improve attendance and generate interest in concert-going. A number of orchestras have already experimented with alternative presentation ideas such as short ?one half? concerts, conductor presentations, lighting effects, rush-hour concerts, compères and plasma screens. More ideas are out there.
The conference will also look at what audiences, players and conductors really want from their concert experience. It will consider the importance of the impact conductors and musicians can have in making alternative presentation methods possible ? or, even, desirable. It will also hear from crucial participants in any presentation experiment, namely the musicians and venue managers. Finally, there will be a very special visitor from the United States in Roland Valliere, the creator of the ground-breaking ?Concert Companion?, the virtual programme-notes tool that allows the concert goer to choose what they read, or see, next ? including even the conductor?s face! Trialled with five US orchestras, this will be the Concert Companion?s UK debut. Other guest speakers include Royal Opera House director Tony Hall, USA subscriptions guru Douglas W Kinzey, and Clive Gillinson of the London Symphony Orchestra with his parting thoughts.
The conference is this year, once again, sponsored by Classic FM, which, over the years, has developed partnerships with ABO members such as the Philharmonia, the LSO, the RLPO and the RSNO. Classic FM is committed to encouraging listeners to experience live performances and continues to introduce new initiatives in this area.
Darren Henley is Station Manager at Classic FM. The ABO Conference runs from 11?13 February in Birmingham. w: http://www.abo.org.uk