· Culture · 25 October 2023 · T. Joana Rebelo · P. Rights Reserved

Candlelight

A wave of light and emotion

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Emotions stir within the first few chords, surrounded by a blaze of incandescent light. The audience soars, the melody resonates and the culture is thankful. We're talking about the Candlelight sensory experience, which sees live music performances as the democratisation of classical music. There are already more than a hundred cities that have been marked by a concept that brings this musical genre to agnostic audiences, as well as providing access to each city's cultural heritage. The organisation that dreams this all up and brings it to life is Fever, using dreamlike settings to make instrumental performances more intimate and immersive. At times an artistic setting, at others a historical backdrop. Sometimes around the artists, sometimes facing them. By the light of thousands of candles, these are experiences that break with the traditional, where artists take the liberty of interacting directly with the public. In fact, it's not just the stunning venues and the proximity to the audience that make Candlelight such a moving spectacle. Perhaps the secret lies in the light emitted by the countless candles. Studies show that ambient lighting can influence mood; in fact, research carried out at the University of Toronto found that contact with brighter spaces reproduces more intense emotions. Nothing is by chance, but music envelops the spirit in such a way that there is no room for excessively rational thoughts.

Millions of spectators from all over the world

Portugal opened its doors to the Candlelight shows in 2019, and the Algarve, Lisbon, Oeiras, Estoril, Cascais, Sinta, Oporto and Braga have already served as stages. It took no time at all to reach Inês Machado, the event's project manager in Portugal. The young face seems to be suited to the avant-garde nature of the project, and she begins by telling us about its origins: «The Candlelight concerts were launched by Fever, with the aim of reaching a new audience and creating more inclusive concerts for everyone.» She tells us that the first «drafts» were created in the cities of New York, Madrid and Paris and that, to date, she is unable to count on her fingers the number of cities that have embraced the event, nor the millions of spectators from all over the world. Today, Candlelight has broadened its horizons, covering everything from classical music to the rock of Queen, through versatile projects that aim to unite paradoxical generations in a single space. «Initially it was devised as a classical music series, with concerts based on the works of the greatest composers, such as Vivaldi, Mozart and Chopin. Today, the list of programmes is constantly growing and includes a wide variety of musical styles and genres, including tributes to contemporary artists such as Queen, ABBA, Coldplay and Ed Sheeran, as well as shows dedicated to K-Pop, film soundtracks and much more,» Inês explains. The multi-sensory experience has already evolved into different fields, encompassing ballet dances, aerial artists and musical genres such as jazz, soul, opera and flamenco. This is an invitation to indulge the senses with just the right amount of sophistication. Whether on an actual rooftop or in a centuries-old cathedral, the musicians also see the project as an opportunity to explore a versatile talent, through which they reproduce the most varied pieces, from the classics to contemporary music.

It's worth noting that the tributes to Queen and Coldplay are bestsellers, capable of bringing together a diverse audience, although the soundtracks to epic films are a good show to spend with the family. As for the classics, you won't regret it if you want to enjoy them gently and slowly. And now, if you'll excuse us, we'll put our mobile phones on silent, settle back on the bench and let ourselves be washed away by the perfect treble clefs. The Candlelight show is about to begin in Oporto. Music, Maestro!
The first piano keys chime at the Ateneu Comercial do Porto. The view is idyllic. At one moment, the melody seems open and clear. At another, it's like a door ajar, where curiosity seems to have no end. You feel like keeping your eyes closed, as if you were floating in a melody that caresses you until the very last note. Suddenly, as if by surprise, we return to the earthly world and loud clapping fills the room in its entirety. Before you know it, more than 40 minutes have passed and knowing glances are exchanged between the audience and the musician, both sure of the impact made. And that seems to be the only way to describe the multi-sensory Candlelight experience, this time provided by the Portuguese Vasco Miranda, who performed Coldplay hits on the piano. It was all thought up by Fever, which wants to contribute to a culture that is more accessible to people, based on a contemporary and intimate motto. Oh, and as for the candles, fear not. They're LED!

25 October 2023

T. Joana Rebelo