We’ve all been there: the curtains go up, the lights go down, and there is a reminder announcement for audience members in the theatre to turn off and put away their smartphones.
Not this time.
On Jan. 20 and 21, the Centre In The Square is playing host to Live By Request, a different kind of orchestra performance, where the audience will be voting in real time on their phones which pieces the symphony will play next. John Morris Russell will be conducting the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and the audience will get to decide what they want to hear.
You don’t have to be an expert on the symphony to join in the voting, either.
“For instance, we start off asking the audience, ‘what is your favourite animal?’ so we have three selections of carnival animals, whether it is an elephant, or a lion or a swan,” said Russell. “Then, people will decide on one of those three. Whichever wins, we play the piece that goes with it.”
While the Live By Request performances could prove a handful for some conductors, Russell is no stranger to taking on a challenge. He is currently in his sixth season as the conductor of the Cincinnati Pops, touring all over North America and this year, heading to Asia. He is also the principal pops conductor for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and has collaborated with Aretha Franklin, George Takei, Steve Martin, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and more. Now, he is in Kitchener.
The internationally renowned conductor put on a similar show, with audience voting, a few years ago. It was the first time he had conducted a performance with the interactive voting aspect, and he can’t wait to do it again in Kitchener.
“It was a couple of years ago with the Boston Pops. It was fantastic. I immediately called all my friends and colleagues and said, ‘hey, you have to do this.’ Central to the whole thing is the use of the app,” he said.
The different format presents a few challenges, however. The symphony orchestra has to put together nearly three times as many pieces in preparation for the performances. They never know what the audience will pick. The fun part? Compiling the list of songs the audience has to choose from.
“It was really fun putting together the groups of songs that go together and are all people’s favourites. We make sure to select pieces that get a good response from audiences. That is why they call it the Pops,” he said.
He hopes the audiences will have a new appreciation for the work that goes into hosting a performance, especially one that keeps the artists on their toes.
“I hope, first of all, that they are marvelously entertained, but also we want them to see just how remarkably talented and flexible this orchestra is,” shared Russell. “You know, that we can do just about anything and read the music in front of you and just go for it. We want the audience to be in the moment.”
A lot of symphony orchestra performances can be rigid and stuffy, but not Live By Request. Russell says the show has a different feel and flow to it.
“In some ways, it makes the show more easygoing. You just don’t know what is going to come next, so you have to just sit back and be in the moment. You don’t know what piece is going to be selected, and you have to gauge the audience. There is a lot of opportunity for interaction and it is definitely something completely different. The audience is part of it.”
The show runs on Jan. 20 and 21, both performances are at 8 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets to Live By Request, visit www.centreinthesquare.com, or call the box office at 519-745-4711. Tickets start at $12 for children and $19 for adults.
