When classical musicians are at home, do they go around dressed in their tuxedoes and evening gowns? Do they do nothing except practice their instruments 14 hours a day?
Nope and nope.
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A pair of South Florida oboists, for example, make bonsai trees in their spare time. And a local violinist, inspired by the trend of ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) videos, recently made one featuring enhanced sound of her rosining a bow.
These brief glimpses of a "day in the life" of classical musicians are featured in The Symphonia's new Facebook series "The Symphonia At Home" which livestreams every Thursday at 5 p.m.. It showcases the Boca Raton-based orchestra's musicians through interviews and performances from their own homes.
Once The Symphonia's 2019-2020 season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, the orchestra's members turned to the internet to stay in touch with their audience. Some of the livestreams integrate performance videos shot at concert halls during the pre-pandemic days.
The informality of the presentations gives the performers a chance — even in quarantine — to kick back, have a bit of fun and show off their sense of humor.
"It's really amazing how much I'm learning about our musicians," says Jeffrey Kaye, Artistic Director of and Principal Trumpet for The Symphonia. "I've never seen them at home, behind the scenes; practicing, having meals, what their hobbies are. It's really been a learning experience and very enjoyable," says Kaye.
You can watch "The Symphonia At Home" on the orchestra's Facebook page, every Thursday at 5 pm. You can also find links to past programs by visiting thesymphonia.org.
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This interview is part of WLRN’s new series called “Intermission,” a look at how South Florida’s arts community is using social media to connect with audiences during social distancing.
If you're an artist or arts organization finding new ways to do this, we would love to hear from you. Please email us at talktous@wlrnnews.org with the word "Intermission" in the subject line. Or call 305-376-3777.
