CLASSICS GET CRACKING IN DIGITAL ERA

LOVERS of classical music worldwide can soon tune in to an intimate concert series showcasing what Tasmania’s finest musicians have been up to in the pandemic.

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra has collected a new global following during the lockdown. Content manager and special projects curator Robert Gibson said the team pumped out 183 TSO daily dose clips in six months, hitting nearly 300,000 views.

The TSOs next venture is six Friday Night Live concerts to be streamed from the Federation Concert Hall, only this time audiences pay for tickets and must tune in live.

Mr Gibson said he hoped the multi- camera set- up and digital format would allow viewers to enjoy the orchestra in a fresh way. “The cameras are taking you close in to the action so it’s a completely different way of experiencing this music,” he said. “It’d be really nice if people were watching it in groups [ or] inviting the neighbours in.”

From October 30 to December 4, a Concert 101 segment will precede each weekly show at 6.45pm, where Mr Gibson will introduce the program and interview musicians.

The concerts will end at about 8 o’clock, with the option for viewers to interact and ask players questions at the zoom afterparty.

Mr Gibson said the concerts would mix classics from Mozart, Debussy and Wagner with contemporary works, such as the world debut of local composer Saxon Hornett’s Laceless.

Tickets are $ 22.50 at watch. tso. com. au.