Most people don’t willingly choose to listen to classical music. Unless it’s in the form of a “Music for Studying” playlist on Spotify or in the background of a movie, the genre tends to only appeal to a certain demographic of people – those people being musicians themselves and older, white folks. A first-time trip to the local Colorado Symphony had me questioning the fate of classical music in today’s society, and how the community is working to make it a profitable one.
From May 10-12, Colorado Symphony played a dreamy selection of pieces in downtown Denver’s Boettcher Concert Hall. The first half featured present-day American composer Missy Mazoli’s “Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres),” a composition modeled after the shapes of the solar system and the jazzy, Gershwin-influenced “Piano Concerto in G Major” by the renowned French impressionist Maurice Ravel. Prodigal pianist Conrad Tao performed with virtuosic skill and passion throughout Ravel’s concerto, followed by a full standing ovation. Post-intermission, conductor Brett Mitchell related the brief history of the evening’s special feature, Romantic composer Hector Berlioz’ “Symphonie Fantastique.” A five-movement piece, the Colorado Symphony performed it to perfection, even taking notes from the original program of having musicians walk off stage to play instruments in order to create a sound of distance.
Yet, no matter how stunning the symphony’s performance proved to be, will more people ever start listening to classical music? Aside from the devoted season ticket holders, casual one-time guests, musicians and retirement home and school programs, classical music only reaches a brief and shallow live audience, let alone an online or streaming audience. In 1990, the previously existing Denver Symphony filed for bankruptcy after a lack of support in the community. The new Colorado Symphony, however, has only increased its profits and is making symphony music more accessible and enjoyable to the public than ever.
With its new endeavors, the Colorado Symphony proves that symphony orchestras are not doomed to play the same pieces from the 1800’s over and over again. Some of their most highly attended events are the “Movie at the Symphony” series, in which Harry Potter and Star Wars movies are projected to the audience while the orchestra plays the score along with it. Famous musical acts are also often featured. This upcoming season will host OneRepublic, Andrea Bocelli, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Josh Groban, John Prine, Pink Martini and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
The organization also travels all around the community, playing at Red Rocks, Arvada Outdoor Amphitheater and other parks in the area. Tributes to historical figures and national holidays, most notably Martin Luther King, Jr., are highly valued and attended. The symphony often features local city choirs and music programs as well.
The upcoming season will continue the Colorado Symphony’s push for a wider, more inclusive audience. A “Brahms vs. Radiohead” event will weave together the music of Radiohead and Brahms’ “First Symphony.”. The orchestra will screen and play along with classic films “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Fantasia” and “Love Actually.” Aretha Franklin will be honored in a tribute concert, Comic Con fanatics can hear their favorite theme music and jazz cats anticipate a night full of big band hits. All of these events will be expected in the next season, while still maintaining and preserving a healthy dose of Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn and Mozart.
Colorado Symphony is proving that modern orchestras are not doomed. With their growing genres, live events and creativity in showcase, Denver doesn’t look to be losing their classical flair anytime soon. So will Travis Scott be a guest star at the symphony soon? With the symphony’s taste of the modern trends, we may never know what excitement they have up their sleeve.
