A few American orchestras have been experimenting with ways to engage the digital generation during their concerts, with interactive program notes that appear in real time through the hand-held or seat-back devices normally used for showing translations of foreign-language operas. As related by Baltimore Sun classical music critic Tim Smith over at his blog, the National Symphony Orchestra will be attempting something along those lines during its concert at Wolf Trap on July 30.
The NSO’s Associate Conductor, Emil de Cou, has already made the news for technological innovation in 2007, when he created a podcast that listeners could follow on their iPods during an NSO concert at Wolf Trap. In a move that makes a lot more sense, as far as something to do while listening to a concert, de Cou’s conducting of Beethoven’s sixth symphony will be accompanied by his thoughts about the structure of the work via Twitter. Of course, devices that could receive Twitter updates are not allowed in the Filene Center auditorium during the performance, but patrons seated on the lawn will be able to follow de Cou’s prewritten Tweets:
“With this first ever in-time symphonic Twitter you can have the conductor as your personal guide through Beethoven’s most colorful and atmospheric work,” explained de Cou. “I have designed the tweets to go perfectly with ideas I have about the piece as I conduct it but also some interesting commentary to go along with the sights and sounds of Beethoven’s day in the countryside: an adult musical pop-up book written for first timers and concert veterans alike.”
Some general information about Beethoven’s life and the Pastoral Symphony will begin during intermission, followed by Tweets timed to important points in the music during the performance. The first half of the concert will feature violinist Sarah Chang playing one of the most popular pieces in the classical repertoire, Mendelssohn’s violin concerto, and excerpts from Aaron Copland’s Rodeo (including, surely, the Hoe Down movement, AKA “Beef: it’s what’s for dinner”) after the Beethoven. Start following the Twitter feed for the NSO at Wolf Trap or just Wolf Trap to get the information on special half-price ($10) lawn tickets to this concert. If you do follow the Twitter updates during the concert, make sure you leave the sound on on your device: what a sound that will make, with all those bell tones (or whatever) ringing in synch.
