Are candelight concerts killing the real thing?

Musicians in western Canada are getting restive about an eruption of gimmicky Candelight Concerts that are threatening to steal their audience.

Here’s a commentary by the Organisation of Canadian Symphony Musicians:
by Tamsin Lorraine Johnston (Regina Symphony oboist and OCSM 2nd VP)

Even if you haven’t performed in a Candlelight Concert, you would have had to go to a lot of trouble to avoid their advertising on social media. These classical-music adjacent experiences engage local musicians using Listeso Music Group, Inc. The similar Italian musical term L’istesso, meaning the same as before, succinctly describes Listeso’s business model of cloning concerts.

Listeso Music Group runs a tight ship. They are a thoroughly corporate classical music agency specializing in “connecting top local string quartets directly with clients.” By hiring local musicians to perform in otherwise identical Candlelight Concerts, Listeso takes advantage of competitive regional markets, especially those with talented and motivated pools of symphonic musicians, and applies a glossy uniformity.

Naturally, times are tough and musicians need all the work that comes our way. So why the big deal? The larger concern is how Candlelight Concerts are disrupting the entertainment ecosystem created and defended by non-profit organizations with deep roots in their communities….

Read on here.