When classical music meets contemporary hits, you get Fever’s Candlelight Concerts. The concerts are performed by a string quartet, which features two violins, a viola and a cello, with each event taking on a unique theme. Often, the shows are tributes to modern artists and bands. The name comes from the setup of each concert; the venues are illuminated by hundreds of flameless LED candles, creating a serene atmosphere.
On Dec. 13, the Paramount Theatre, located at 503 Victoria Street, will host a Queen vs. ABBA concert at 6:00 p.m., followed by a tribute to Adele at 8:30 p.m.
Ticket prices vary based on the availability of seats at the venue and the number of tickets purchased, but will range from $20 to $45.
They can be purchased exclusively online at Feverup.com. The experience typically lasts 60-65 minutes. Flash photography is not permitted at any time to ensure the entire audience can enjoy the performance. Taking photos and videos is allowed only during the final song of the show, which the musicians will announce to the audience.
The concerts originated in Spain in 2019 and have since expanded, garnering global appeal. Currently, the concerts take place in over 300 cities across 40 countries. Canada’s team, based in Toronto, oversees shows across the country, including developing the programs, hiring performers, and choosing venues. The musicians are always sourced locally from each city, promoting local voices. Often, an already formed string quartet will be hired to play together. However, in Kamloops, players were contacted individually to form a quartet specifically for these events.
Developing each program is a heavily collaborative process. Fever’s curation department creates a list of themes that they think will be successful. Arrangers are then commissioned to help create a set list for a show. Each local team, which includes the venue and the musicians, also has a say in what songs are played. The marketing department and research team work to localize the events and determine what may interest a particular city. The teams curating each city’s concerts are very localized, which allows Fever to have shows across the country that are still tailored to each community.
The purpose of Candlelight Concerts has always been to introduce a new audience to classical music, revitalizing a beautiful and intricate style of music for a younger demographic. About 80 per cent of Fever’s audiences say these have been their first classical music concerts ever, showing how broad an audience the events are drawing in and introducing to the genre.
Andrew Bryan, the team lead for Candlelight Concerts in Canada, said he had developed an appreciation for classical music by being exposed to it at a very young age, an experience that had been very uncommon. When asked what he hopes audiences will take away from the experience, he said, “Usually people are looking at big concert halls and big orchestras, and they’re not necessarily finding themselves buying tickets. I’m hoping they get a nice intro to classical music and become fans.”