Pune: Imagine a cosy setting illuminated by hundreds of candles and a pianist playing a Beethoven sonata by the flickering light. Well, this not a dream sequence from a film but a new phenomenon in concerts that is all the rage these days, especially among music lovers looking for an immersive experience. Candlelight concerts , popular abroad, have now come to Pune, allowing people to enjoy live music performances in an intimate setting in the warm glow of over several LED candles, evoking the hallowed ambience of ancient churches and temples.
Deepa Bajaj, country manager, Live Your City, a brand under the US-based live-entertainment discovery platform Fever Labs Inc, said, "The main purpose of these concerts is to break down the barriers audiences have developed towards classical music. We are bringing classical music , be it Indian or western, to audiences in an immersive setting that is meant to be intimate, with only 300-400 members in the audience per concert that usually lasts for 65 minutes." Starting from 2019 in Spain with about 300 candles and a smaller audience, candlelight concerts have been held in over 35 countries, recognising the US, Germany, and France as major markets.
Their venture into India was encouraged by the rapid growth of the entertainment and technology industries in the country. Bajaj said, "The yellow glow of the candlelight is associated with warmth and a slower pace in which music was enjoyed in churches, temples, and so on, allowing audiences to find a higher spiritual experience. In an era where concerts are often about capturing the moment on your phone or being dazzled by theatrics, these concerts are a refreshing reminder of the true purpose of live music — to simply enjoy and be moved by the music itself.
We focus on tribute concerts, so audiences hear the songs they already know in an instrumental, classical format." Three concerts will be performed by local western classical artists at Radisson Blue Hotel, Kharadi. Jay Parte will perform best movie soundtracks on August 30-31, and Sonam Lodhi will pay tribute to iconic bands such as The Beatles on September 18 and Coldplay on September 27-28.
A dedicated Coldplay fan, Sonam Lodhi said, "Songs like ‘The Scientist' and ‘Fix You' have been sources of comfort and hope during difficult times. On the other hand, tracks like ‘Adventure of a Lifetime', ‘Hymn for the Weekend', and ‘A Sky Full of Stars' are best enjoyed in the company of others, where we can come together to celebrate love and life. I'm particularly excited about the special piano arrangements we have created for these beloved songs, offering a fresh and intimate perspective on Coldplay's music that allows audiences to experience these iconic tracks in a new and captivating way.
" Eager to engage new audiences with new repertoires, Bollywood buff Jay Parte said, "My performance will have a wonderful, cherry-picked selection of celebrated songs from Indian cinema that span across decades. All the pieces have acquired a special place in my heart, but some of my favourite ones to play include ‘Lag Jaa Gale', ‘'Yeh Shaam Mastaani', and ‘Chura Liya Hai'. I really love the vibe of ‘What Jhumka?', ‘Chaleya', ‘Apna Bana Le', and ‘Naacho Naacho' as well.
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