Classical Mixtape Left in Queue - A Live Orchestral Jamboree Falls Flat
The latest experiment from the Southbank Centre aimed to create a live mix tape experience where six world-class orchestras played short sets, repeated throughout the evening. The idea was tantalizing – an immersive event that allowed audiences to wander between performances and enjoy music on their own terms.
However, things didn't quite come together as planned. In the Royal Festival Hall, the London Philharmonic Orchestra kicked off with a brief but enthusiastic performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Yet, despite its energetic start, the set seemed hastily assembled, and the overall atmosphere felt disjointed. A meandering finale from Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony only exacerbated the sense of confusion.
The problem was compounded by the fact that each orchestra played a short set that would be repeated three times over 75 minutes – leaving audiences to navigate crowded spaces with limited seating capacity. Queues became the norm, rather than an opportunity for serendipitous discovery. Audiences were left stranded in bottlenecks, struggling to catch up on performances they'd missed.
Meanwhile, some of the other orchestras delivered more promising results. In the Clore Ballroom, the Chineke! Junior Orchestra managed a rousing performance of Margaret Bonds' Montgomery Variations, despite the challenges posed by an unconventional layout that felt like a series of exhibits in a gallery. However, their lack of experience showed, and a less intricate piece would have been wiser.
A more industrial sound was found in the Queen Elizabeth Hall's undercroft, where the London Sinfonietta performed a trio of Steve Reich works to a receptive audience. The atmospheric space seemed designed for this type of music, with the lighting eerily reminiscent of a nightclub.
Not all orchestras fared as well, and the Aurora Orchestra's Purcell Room performance felt like an afterthought – its musical peaks lost amidst the chaos of an underutilized venue. Even more baffling was the decision to leave one of the Southbank Centre's most prominent halls unused.
Ultimately, Classical Mixtape left me disenchanted with its half-baked vision of classical music in bite-size chunks. The event promised much but failed to deliver a cohesive experience that would inspire future generations of music lovers. As I exited, it became clear that this experiment had little chance of success – and for good reason.
The latest experiment from the Southbank Centre aimed to create a live mix tape experience where six world-class orchestras played short sets, repeated throughout the evening. The idea was tantalizing – an immersive event that allowed audiences to wander between performances and enjoy music on their own terms.
However, things didn't quite come together as planned. In the Royal Festival Hall, the London Philharmonic Orchestra kicked off with a brief but enthusiastic performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Yet, despite its energetic start, the set seemed hastily assembled, and the overall atmosphere felt disjointed. A meandering finale from Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony only exacerbated the sense of confusion.
The problem was compounded by the fact that each orchestra played a short set that would be repeated three times over 75 minutes – leaving audiences to navigate crowded spaces with limited seating capacity. Queues became the norm, rather than an opportunity for serendipitous discovery. Audiences were left stranded in bottlenecks, struggling to catch up on performances they'd missed.
Meanwhile, some of the other orchestras delivered more promising results. In the Clore Ballroom, the Chineke! Junior Orchestra managed a rousing performance of Margaret Bonds' Montgomery Variations, despite the challenges posed by an unconventional layout that felt like a series of exhibits in a gallery. However, their lack of experience showed, and a less intricate piece would have been wiser.
A more industrial sound was found in the Queen Elizabeth Hall's undercroft, where the London Sinfonietta performed a trio of Steve Reich works to a receptive audience. The atmospheric space seemed designed for this type of music, with the lighting eerily reminiscent of a nightclub.
Not all orchestras fared as well, and the Aurora Orchestra's Purcell Room performance felt like an afterthought – its musical peaks lost amidst the chaos of an underutilized venue. Even more baffling was the decision to leave one of the Southbank Centre's most prominent halls unused.
Ultimately, Classical Mixtape left me disenchanted with its half-baked vision of classical music in bite-size chunks. The event promised much but failed to deliver a cohesive experience that would inspire future generations of music lovers. As I exited, it became clear that this experiment had little chance of success – and for good reason.
The whole concept of the live mix tape was so cool, but they just didn't execute it well. Having to navigate through crowds with limited seating was super frustrating. And don't even get me started on how some of the orchestras were left to struggle in underutilized venues 
I mean, come on, you'd think the Southbank Centre would know better than to leave one of their most prominent halls unused 
It feels like they just phoned it in and expected magic to happen. And yeah, the fact that some of them had shorter sets repeated three times over 75 minutes was a total waste of time 
Overall, I'm still waiting for someone to get classical music right on the platform... 
and what's up with one of the halls just sitting empty 
like they just didnt care about the whole thing. the chineke! junior orchestra was actually pretty cool tho 
. Who thought short sets repeated three times would be fun? Sounds like a snooze fest to me 
. And don't even get me started on the space layout – I felt like I was stuck in some sort of music museum exhibit 
. Give me a decent concert hall with some actual seating capacity any day! 
. But others...not so much 
. Like, what's up with leaving an entire hall unused? 
That just feels like a waste.
at least some of the orchestras delivered, but overall, this whole thing just left me underwhelmed 
. Overcrowding and queuing ruined the vibe. Needed more planning and coordination 
. Some orchestras shined, but it wasn't enough to save the whole thing 
. Time to go back to the drawing board 
! they tried to make it like a mixtape, but its more like they threw a bunch of different performances together w/o any real cohesion 
. i mean, who thought it was a good idea 2 have every orchestra play the same piece THREE TIMES 
. i did enjoy some parts tho, like da Chineke! Junior Orchestra's set in da Clore Ballroom - they had some awesome energy 
! but overall its just a bunch of disjointed bits strung together w/o any real musical flow 
...can't believe they dropped the ball on this one. It's like they took all the good ideas and mashed them into a big ol' mess 
. And don't even get me started on the crowds and queues - I've seen more efficient queuing systems at a festival 
. The ones that did work, like the Chineke! Junior Orchestra's performance, were definitely highlights but it felt like they were fighting against the system. Maybe try again with a new format next time? 
. And yeah, some of those other orchestras really struggled in that industrial space at the Queen Elizabeth Hall 
. And don't even get me started on the venue situation - I felt like I was stuck in a real-life game of musical chairs, except instead of chairs, it was orchestras 
, but it's clear they're still growing into their sound. Sorry to say, I think this whole experiment was a bit of a mess 
it's not just about the music, it's about creating an immersive experience that lets you wander and discover new things on your own terms. but instead, it felt like a chore to navigate through crowds with limited seating capacity 
u gotta be kidding me they cant even get the logistics right? 6 orchestras, one venue, 75 minutes... sounds like a recipe for disaster 
industrial sound is cool and all but come on guys u couldve done better 
. i was stuck in queues like everyone else, missing out on performances because of the overcrowding 