Once Upon a Score Tickets

Music

Classical music has long been associated with grand emotions and epic storytelling. From Beethoven's sweeping symphonies to Wagner's operas, classical composers have used music to tell powerful narratives that evoke all sorts of feelings in their listeners.

But as much as classical music can tell stories, it also often leaves them open to interpretation. Unlike the lyrics of a pop song, classical music lacks an obvious storyline that listeners can readily latch onto. Instead, listeners are left to interpret the music for themselves, piecing together their own visual imagery and emotional responses.

That's where Once Upon a Score comes in.

Once Upon a Score is an innovative program that aims to bring some clarity to classical music by pairing it with vivid visual storytelling. Developed by pianist Orli Shaham, Once Upon a Score builds on the idea of "guided listening," using visuals to help audiences better understand the narrative threads woven into each piece of music.

Shaham first developed the program in 2012 as a way to introduce children to the world of classical music. She found that children responded well to the stories and visuals, which allowed them to connect more deeply with the music and better understand its emotional range. But she soon discovered that the program had potential to reach far beyond just young listeners.

Adults, too, enjoyed the added depth and context provided by Once Upon a Score. For example, in a recent performance featuring Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, Shaham used carefully curated images of the artwork that inspired each movement of the piece, allowing audiences to see how Mussorgsky was translating these paintings into music. This provided a new level of insight into the piece that would have been hard to glean from just listening alone.

Other performances have included works by Tchaikovsky, Debussy, and Ravel, and all have utilized stunning visuals to provide supplementary context and narrative. In addition to enhancing the listening experience, Once Upon a Score's visuals often provide a new appreciation for the artistry of the composers themselves. It's hard not to be awed when you see how Tchaikovsky weaved Russian folk melodies into his Symphony No. 2 or when you realize just how radical Debussy's avant-garde sensibilities were in his era.

Of course, some might argue that adding visuals to classical music detracts from its purity and detracts from the traditional listening experience. But Shaham has been careful to ensure that her visuals never overpower the music itself. Rather than dictate a particular interpretation, Once Upon a Score's visuals simply provide an alternate entry point into the music – noting what the composer himself may have been attempting to convey.

Ultimately, Once Upon a Score is about enriching the listening experience of classical music, whether you're a lifelong fan or someone who's still trying to figure out just what makes this genre so special. By adding a new dimension of visual storytelling to the music, it breaks down barriers and allows anyone to connect on a deeper level with the timeless emotions and grandeur of classical compositions.