When you bring together in the same room two violinists (one a content creator and the other a music curator), two pianists (both musicologists, one of whom is the director of international strategy for the Franz Schubert Philharmonia), and the director of development at the Reina Sofía School of Music, you know the topic of conversation is bound to be classical music.
They are Necko Vidal, Javier Calderari, Irene de Juan, Guiomar Blanco, and Marjorie Nétange, respectively. Five experts in the “fourth art” who, to mark European Music Day, took part in the roundtable discussion held last Thursday at the Palacio de los Condes de Paredes de Nava in Madrid.
An event where Classical Pulse was presented—the study launched by Candlelight by Fever in which 80,000 people from around the world answered the roundtable’s main question: What is the present and future of live classical music?
What keeps audiences from classical music?
The figures from Classical Pulse make it clear: Spain has the highest attendance at classical music concerts among the countries surveyed, especially among younger people. And yet, it seems there is still an invisible distance between audiences and the genre.
According to the study, the main barrier is a lack of knowledge about the genre (29%), ahead of price (26%)—an obstacle that institutions such as the Reina Sofía School of Music aim to eliminate through“accessible, innovative, and relatable initiatives,” as Marjorie Nétange explained.
But they also discussed a possible perception of elitism surrounding the genre. Guiomar Blanco emphasized the need to dispel “false clichés about classical music” because “classical music is for everyone.”
The two things the audience is looking for
Regardless of the musical genre we’re talking about, Necko Vidal stated that “people just want two things: to have a good time and to feel a connection.” This goal is much easier to achieve in genres like pop or rock thanks to the lyrics, compared to classical orchestral music.
But “people are realizing that you can enjoy classical music without having to study it for 14 years,” commented the content creator. Both he and Javier Calderari cited the Candlelight concerts as an example, which feature contemporary programs performed by string quartets or pianists live and by candlelight.
“These kinds of experiences don’t compete with traditional classical offerings; rather, they can encourage greater exploration and participation within the genre,” said Fever’s music curator.
Classical Music Events in Madrid
In addition to the Candlelight concerts, with dates at various venues such as the Círculo de Bellas Artes and the Ateneo de Madrid, the capital offers a wide variety of (and affordable) options for those who want to enjoy or discover classical music.
Among them are the Teatro Real’s Chamber Music Sundays (where soloists from the resident orchestra perform concerts starting at €13) and the ORCAM (Orchestra and Choir of the Community of Madrid) program, featuring its Symphony Series and its “Tiempo de Cámara” project.
Also noteworthy is the National Auditorium’sinitiative, through which anyone under 30 can purchase so-called “last-minute tickets, ” available for €5 one hour before every concert, subject to availability.
