“Contemporary chamber orchestra London Sinfonietta has launched a hybrid program, Couch to Concert,” writes Florence Lockheart in Tuesday’s (5/24) Classical Music (U.K.). “Modelled on the NHS [National Health Service] and BBC’s joint Couch to 5k program, Couch to Concert aims to introduce first-time listeners to the classical music genre through a series of podcasts, playlists and resources which guide them towards their first contemporary classical concert. Hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Cerys Matthews and music journalist Paul Morley, the podcast’s first and second episodes are out now on Spotify. These episodes explain the context of the repertoire, describe what listeners should listen out for and explain what makes each piece so ground-breaking. Listeners will then receive a free ticket to a London Sinfonietta concert, where they can hear the music they’ve learned about…. The Couch to Concert program will be repeated four times over the next two concert seasons, with each iteration exploring different repertoire and culminating in a live concert. London Sinfonietta’s first Couch to Concert concert … took place last week…. The Couch to Concert initiative continues the ensemble’s tradition of championing new music, with over 450 pieces commissioned since the ensemble’s formation.”
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