Pub Concerts - Classical Music in a Casual Setting
We came up with the Pub Concert series as a way to bring the music to the people! There's nothing I like better than getting together with friends and playing music in a relaxed atmosphere. I asked two of my friends and North Carolina Symphony musicians to tell me about what they think about playing "serious" music in a bar. Our next pub concert is on March 5, 2009 at Humble Pie Restaurant in Raleigh and features the Brahms A minor string quartet with North Carolina Symphony musicians Dovid Friedlander, Assistant Concertmaster; Jacqueline Saed Wolborsky, Associate Principal Violin II; Anton Jivaev, Principal Viola; and Lisa Shaughnessy, cello.
Here's what a couple of the performers have to say:
Comments from Dovid Friedlander, Assistant Concertmaster:
“We are all "SYMPHONY" musicians, so having the opportunity to play in a pub is very fun, different and intimate. The audience can be up close to the performers. This also gives us a different energy having people right on top of you rather than having them further away in a bigger hall.
“I think this Brahms is a great piece for a couple of reasons. Historically, the quartet, in general, was performed in smaller places. Again back to the intimacy issue. Brahms's music is very lush and beautiful. It displays all four instruments very well and pretty equally with gorgeous harmony and melody. It also has a lot of Hungarian intensity and fire in it, which I think the audience will dig.
“Another thing that I think is interesting is that everyone brings a different voice to rehearsals. Sometimes we agree and other times we compromise. It is far different than having a conductor who is the leader. In a quartet, there is no ONE leader but FOUR.”
Comments from Jacqueline Saed Wolborsky, Associate Principal Violin II:
“It definitely feels more laid back to play at a bar. Even though the music that we will be performing could easily be played in any formal concert hall, I love that the setting instantly changes the music into something more accessible to a crowd unfamiliar with classical music. I want our audience to be able to relax and groove to a Brahms or Bartok quartet the way they would to a jazz or rock song.
“I think that having a classical concert at a pub helps take some of the formality out of the usual classical concert experience. I think the classical concert experience can sometimes feel intimidating to anyone curious about and new to classical music. I like that this setting takes away that edge and might encourage anyone who isn't as familiar with classical music to come. The concert is short, and there will be great food and drinks. What more could anyone want?!”
This evening, my daughter literally 'grooved' to some Bach on the radio while we ate dinner. I love the idea of combining good food and great music (how much better when the music is live and touchable) in a feast for the senses. I was sorry to miss the Brahms pub concert, but definitely look forward to another. Thank you for creating events like this.
