It’s that time of year when the city is packed with events – each event as exciting and interesting as the next – and there never seems to be enough time to enjoy them all. So if you’re regretting missing the last candlelight concert, don’t. According to the organisers, this entertaining event will be a regular fixture on the city’s music scene.
Even if you haven’t had the chance to attend one of these concerts, you must have seen pictures of musicians performing enthusiastically amid the golden glow of thousands of candles. The candlelight concerts are tributes and previous editions in the city have been tributes to The Beatles, Coldplay, Mozart and Chopin and others. His upcoming show in the city is a tribute to RD Burman.
tease the first note
According to Deepa Bajaj, Country Manager India, Fever Originals, Candlelight Concerts was launched in India in June 2024. “Our first concerts were in Bombay and Delhi, and after seeing the positive response there, we gradually expanded to other cities. Our first show was in Bengaluru in September, followed by Chennai and Hyderabad in November,” says Deepa.
Deepa Bajaj Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Candlelight Concerts is owned by Fever Labs Inc., which was registered in the United States in 2014. Although the concerts were launched in 2019, and have since been a resounding success around the world, they began as a low-key interlude.
“The early concerts were in a small room with 300 real candles and a program that consisted of pure classical music and an audience of family and friends. The experience was greatly appreciated as it allowed people to immerse themselves in the music,” says Deepa.
She further adds how the organizers wanted to create an environment where the music was the only focus as most live performances have too many distractions – whether it was people talking or ordering food or mingling. Ho – which is not the most favorable for musicians. ,
“Our aim was to make the music the hero with the support of the atmosphere. We stayed true to that mission of bringing classical music to the forefront, but we decided to do it in a way that bridged the gap between classical music and contemporary audiences. As a result, these concerts are a serene experience where one is exclusively connected to the music.”
In a candlelight concert Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
With real candles this can get stale very quickly and it doesn’t help if the performers are sweating during the performance, which is why organizers now use specially designed LED candles. “They are what we use around the world to ensure a complete experience without safety and temperature issues. In India, depending on the size of the venue, we use 6000-12,000 candles,” says Deepa.
melody makers
With candlelight concerts expected to become a regular feature in many Indian cities, Deepa says her selection of musicians and set list follows a certain logic.
“First of all, we work with local musicians in every city. Secondly, based on our data and research, we create a localized playlist for each venue. We do not follow a template-based approach, but rather meet the needs of our audience in a more holistic manner. That’s why our best movie soundtracks include local soundtracks that audiences will connect with.”
Now on the road for five years, with concerts in over 300 cities, organizers have identified global best sellers and fan favourites.
In a candlelight concert Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“We only work with local artists because our aim is to give them a platform and make classical music an accessible, regular experience, not a one-time thing,” she says.
Deepa says one of the criteria for selecting musicians is that they should have studied classical music and be able to read music, “even if they are paying tribute to The Beatles, because we get arrangements in the classical format, which They need it.” To be able to read, practice, and then perform.”
“Also, in our programs, artists talk about the music they will perform with the audience. Listeners get to learn little things about the music they’re listening to that helps them connect with it better. They must be able to interact with the audience about the music.
To bring about a greater appreciation of classical music, organizers believe that performing artists should value the work of other composers, “especially when they will not be playing their original music, but paying tribute.” There should be a feeling of joy in dancing to someone else’s music. If you respect another musician’s work and play it brilliantly, you perform beautifully.”
The team has curated a healthy list of artists in every city. “Although we keep bringing in regular artists, we also keep bringing in other artists. While we have fan favorites in Delhi and Bombay, we are building a community to bring long-term stability to musicians.
The next candlelight concert is a tribute to RD Burman at Hyatt Centric Hebbal Bengaluru on December 7, with other shows to be organized throughout the month.
Visit liveyourcity.com to follow the candlelight concert schedule.
published – December 09, 2024 12:25 PM IST
