There Is This Sub-Culture Around Classical Music and It’S Only Getting Bigger.”

Proms Festival in 2009 with headliner Lesley Garrett, and has gone on to work with Michael Ball and Alfie Boe. “Ball & Boe’s chart success was huge but then you’ve got someone like Andre Rieu, who is probably among the Top 10 artists in the whole live music world in terms of ticket sales,” says Taylor. “We look after Collabro, who came out of a TV talent show. Their music is very much classical crossover and musical theatre and, five years on, they are still selling out the Royal Albert Hall. “When people think of classical, they think of The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall and that is as popular as ever, but there is this sub-culture around classical music and it’s only getting bigger.” peaking of which, the BBC Proms – the world’s largest music festival – returns to the Royal Albert Hall this Friday and runs for eight weeks until Generation game: (L-R) Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Jess Gillam and September 14. Ludovico Einaudi S“The Proms bring classical music to the forefront in London, if not the world,” says Royal Albert Hall artistic and commercial director Lucy Noble. “They’re very good One strand still going from strength to strength is the at bringing in new audiences, people who might not have Hall’s wildly successful film and live orchestra series. integrated with classical music before.” Debuting in 2009 with The Lord Of The Rings: The The iconic venue, which also hosted last year’s Classic Fellowship Of The Ring, it has allowed the public to BRITs, has offered a pathway to the genre through events witness classics such as The Godfather, Aliens, Star Wars such as Hacienda Classical and the upcoming Garage and Titanic in a unique environment. Classical, presented by DJ Spoony, which will feature “People are probably coming along to those for the title of composer and conductor Katie Chatburn and her 36-piece the film but, unbeknown to many of them, they’re having their Ignition Orchestra. first introduction to a classical orchestra as well,” grins Noble. Looking ahead to the Hall’s upcoming 150th anniversary The trend has stretched beyond the silver screen. celebrations in 2021, Noble reveals she is hopeful the venue “We have seen a consistent appetite for big orchestral will host a series of concerts by iconic artists performing versions of much-loved DJs and bands, much like [UTA with orchestras. “There is this client] Peter Hook presents Joy Division Orchestrated,” “That would be cool,” she smiles. “There is an appetite sub-culture around adds Keyte. “This wave of classical productions is also for classical music to be delivered in a more accessible way. being booked across festivals including Hacienda Classical That’s why things like Garage Classical work. We also do classical music opening the main stage at Glastonbury in 2017.” something called My Great Orchestral Adventure, which and it’s only Taylor points to Cuffe & Taylor’s Music From Downton introduces children to classical music in a fun way. It’s very getting bigger” Abbey concert last month at Highclere Castle (where the participatory, yet at the same time they’re hearing some of TV series is set) as another example. the most serious classical music.” “There is no pigeonhole for the audience now, which makes PETER TAYLOR Noble is keen to stress, however, that the decline of it more difficult to try and target those people,” he says. “In music in secondary schools is likely to have long-term CUFFE & TAYLOR the old days we would put an advert on Classic FM and the negative ramifications on the genre. job was done, but we’re now using different mediums. “There is a danger that, because music isn’t being “I say ‘classical music’ in inverted commas now because taught in schools as much now, people aren’t learning it is so vast. I think the word ‘classical’ has connotations instruments, therefore they aren’t getting into classical that aren’t justified. Sometimes if you say, ‘Do you want to music at the grassroots,” she warns. “My biggest concern is come and watch a classical concert?’ People would say no, that, later on in the day, that will affect our orchestras and Spoonfed: DJ Spoony presents but if you say, ‘Do you want to come and see Last Night Of affect the more serious side of classical music.” Garage Classical in October The Proms or movie scores played by an orchestra?’ people will say, ‘Oh yeah, I do.’ So we almost need a new name.” As far as Keyte is concerned, the only way is up. She cites Decca’s post-classical imprint Mercury KX, which launched in 2017, and Bauer’s Scala Radio move. “Investment in the classical sector is increasing and the market will continue to grow,” she says. “The emergence or rebrand of labels like Mercury KX is also embracing the next generation of artists and their followers. “Festivals are also continuing to broaden their programming across genres. This allows artists such as Alfie Boe to not only perform at the prestigious BBC Proms In The Park with an orchestra, but also on the main stage at Cornbury Festival with his band.” “It’s just going to continue to grow,” agrees Taylor. “These big orchestral pieces are very popular so taking contemporary artists and putting them on a stage with an orchestra is something we’ll probably see a bit more of.” “Once we get our audience onto streaming, the discovery model will be huge,” concludes Allen. “They’re going to have this incredible catalogue of music to discover and that is just the beginning for us.” 28 | Music Week 15.07.19 musicweek.com MWK1282.classical_live.indd 4 12/07/2019 10:35.

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