BY LAURA BIEMMI, TRENDS EDITOR
According to Nicholas Bochner, everybody knows classical music exists — but people can also feel anxious checking it out if they don’t have all the facts and figures up their sleeves.
The Ears Wide Open series of curated music will help diffuse this concert hall anxiety by teaching you about some of the biggest-ever works “in a relaxed and informal way”.
In our first interview with Nicholas, we learnt about how his career with the MSO in light of the series (and how he got to be the MSO’s Cybec assistant conductor and assistant principal cello). Now, we meet again to uncover the aims, challenges, and rewards of bringing the Ears Wide Open series to fruition.
The format of Ears Wide Open is so fascinating, and unlike anything else being done in a performance space. Where did the inspiration for this idea come about?
The Ears Wide Open series was first started by the legendary Richard Gill. It was a format that was completely natural for him, giving him the opportunity to share his incredible depth of knowledge and passion with audiences. He really was an extraordinary educator, communicator, and human being. This series at MSO is just one small part of the incredible legacy he left us all.
What are some of the challenges in bringing these concerts to fruition?
There is so much that could be explored with the works that we look at in the series, and I think one of the great challenges is selecting the threads, ideas, and stories that best illuminate the works for this particular audience.
What do these concerts aim to achieve in deconstructing famous works?
The great pieces of music that form the repertoire of the orchestra are, like all great works of art, the product of extraordinary minds. They work on many levels and reward in-depth study. As we delve in to them, hear how they work, and come to understand them better, our enjoyment of the music grows immensely.
Why is it important for audiences to understand the contextual history behind the works of composers such as Schumann, Wagner, and Beethoven?
The works of these composers are all immediately appealing without any background. But when we find out more about how the music fits into the bigger story of their lives, of their societies, and of the development of music in general, it can really help us to connect more deeply with what we are hearing.
The understanding of the composers as human beings — albeit unusually gifted human beings! — helps us to connect their music to our own humanity.
How does one go about rehearsing a performance with such an unorthodox concert presentation?
With an incredible world-class orchestra like the MSO, it is remarkably easy. We generally rehearse the piece of music in question, then run through any elements that will be in the presentation, like excerpts of individual instruments or sections, and then I can rely on the orchestra to provide everything needed for a great performance.
In today’s cultural climate, where securing audiences for classical music concerts is sometimes quite difficult, what do you think will draw audiences to these concerts in particular?
I think that there is a very high level of awareness of orchestral music amongst the general public, but perhaps a little anxiety stemming from the perception that perhaps you need to know something in order to enjoy it. These concerts will offer people who are curious about orchestral music the opportunity to find more about it in a relaxed and informal way.
What can audiences expect to come away with at the end of each performance?
Audiences will come away with a deeper understanding of the music in terms of both how to listen to it and how the music fits into the wider context of our history and culture. They will also come away with an insight into how the orchestra prepares and rehearses, as well as having heard from some of the orchestral musicians about their particular experiences of the works. And, of course, they will come away having heard a world-class performance.
The MSO’s educational Ears Wide Open series kicks off with Schumann in the Melbourne Recital Centre this 2 March. Visit the MSO website for more.
We’ve teamed up with the MSO to take you backstage with the Ears Wide Open series! Stay tuned for our third interview between Laura Biemmi and Nicholas Bochner, where we’ll shed more light on this educational initiative!
Image supplied.
