“There’s a new digital portal for classical music—‘Orchestra on Demand’—and it’s all Philadelphian, all the time,” writes Jonathan Takiff in Tuesday’s (10/25) Philadelphia Inquirer. “Launched Monday by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the website offers a sprinkling of concerts from current and past seasons, dating back to Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s inaugural 2012-13 season as music director. Additional content includes concerts by former music director Wolfgang Sawallisch. The recordings come mostly from the archives of WRTI, which carries weekly orchestra broadcasts, with additional educational recordings prepared by Philadelphia Orchestra Board of Directors member Michael Cone…. In years past, the Philadelphia Orchestra has experimented with closed-circuit video feeds of concerts; ‘Live Notes’—synchronized program notes playing to smart phones … launched in the 2014-15 season…. Said president and CEO Allison Vulgamore, ‘Most of us have probably attended a Philadelphia Orchestra performance and thought, “I’d love to hear that again.” Technology provides the means.’ … Just a couple of the streamable-on-demand concerts … are free…. Full access to posted audio and video concerts … is available … to orchestra patrons who’ve donated or purchased tickets to the value of $50 or above on an annual ongoing basis.”
Posted October 26, 2016
