Light Classics in Calgary
The Calgary Philharmonic is another fine Canadian orchestra (there really are so many — it’s fun to conduct in this excellent country). We played a sold-out “light classics” program with them last night. It was all great music related to fairy tales and fantasy: Magic Flute Overture, Dream Pantomime from Hansel and Gretel, Once Upon A Castle (an organ concerto by Michael Daugherty), Ride of the Valkyries, The Swan of Tuonela, and Sleeping Beauty Suite.
I wonder if these are all “light classics” though, and what “light classics” actually is …
Personally, I’d like to do away with the whole “light classics” category altogether. It feeds into the whole “I’m afraid of classical music” thing, and diverts our audience from our core artistic mission as orchestras, which is to play the greatest music possible for as many people as possible.
The thing is, the audience gravitates to light classics for a reason. Many “main series” concerts are so heavy and serious the create aesthetic indigestion for the average concertgoer (the one who doesn’t know the repertoire inside-out). “Main Series” concerts are, in my opinion, too long, too heavy and too self-important. Even I find myself suffering from the Stendhal Syndrome at concerts. So much great art is crushed into a small space that I really take anything in.
Let’s get rid of “light classics” and consolidate our audiences by making main series concerts more digestible and fun. It shouldn’t be difficult. It’s all great music.