Curious about classical music? We've got your Bach

From track pants to a ball gown or even songs you may have heard in The Simpsons, you might be surprised at the spectrum of sights and sounds you’ll encounter at a modern-day orchestral concert.

It’s folly for first-timers to shape their expectations with outdated notions, according to Andy Baird.

Canberra Symphony Orchestra’s Director of Artistic Planning and Development says that while some may be daunted by the prospect of going to the symphony for the first time, there are many excellent gateways to explore orchestral music.

“You may not realise it, but you are likely to have encountered classical music in many areas of your life already. Works by some of the world’s most famous composers have been used in popular formats ranging from TV shows to podcasts – you may have been humming along to a piece by Tchaikovsky without even knowing it,” he says.

Andy recommends starting with a concert that has some familiar music in the lineup, such as the CSO’s big Four Seasons Special Event on Friday, 18 October, and Saturday, 19 October.

“Four Seasons is the perfect introduction for the first-timer,” he says.

“It’s one of the most recognisable pieces of classical music, with movements used in everything from Bond films and The Simpsons to ads for high-end car brands, video games and even episodes of MasterChef.”

Andy says there is a common misconception that there is a dress code for orchestral concerts. In reality, unless the venue imposes a specific dress code, there’s no need to trade your sneakers in for high heels.

“Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable, whether that’s track pants or a ballgown. Contrary to what people may mistakenly think about it being mandatory to roll up wearing black tie and cocktail dress, you can really dress it up or down,” Andy says.

“I’ve worn trackies to a concert, but if you do feel like dressing it up, you can do that, too.

“Anything goes … well, anything within the bounds of decency!”

Those concerned about committing hours of their day to a concert can also rest assured – while there are certainly orchestral options that amount to epic sagas, there’s a spectrum of durations to cater to all attention spans.

The CSO’s Llewellyn Series concerts on the big stage at ANU’s Llewellyn Hall usually run for two hours. Four Seasons is a snappy 75 minutes.

“But if you’re looking for something short and sweet to dip your toe in the water, our Chamber Classics concerts featuring a small ensemble of musicians at the Albert Hall are just an hour long,” Andy says.

“We’ve got one concert left in the 2024 season, Affinities in October, featuring three musicians on violin, cello and piano, and tickets are now on sale for some pretty fantastic 2025 performances.”

Familiarisation is a good trick to help you make the most of your CSO experience.

Andy’s best piece of advice is to make a playlist of the pieces in the program lineup to listen to before you go.

“By the time you get to the concert, the repertoire will feel like an old, familiar friend,” he says.

“Once you’ve listened a few times to the playlist, it can make the live experience so much more interesting – you start to hear things differently; maybe you’ll notice a tambourine shimmering or another sound that’s different from your previous experience of it.

“Four Seasons is definitely one where you can put together a great playlist including a lot of songs you’ll certainly know.”

Don’t get too hung up on notions of etiquette, either – like the “right” time to clap.

“My advice is to follow everyone else’s lead,” Andy says.

“It’s OK if you clap at the wrong time – I personally am a big fan of clapping when you feel compelled to – but sometimes, between movements, there’s a certain atmosphere created by the musicians that they want to hold, and you don’t want to break that spell.”

Ready to dive in? Four Seasons takes place on Friday, 18 October, and Saturday, 19 October, at Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music. Book via CSO.

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