The Classical Mixtape Live Takeover at Southbank Centre was an ambitious experiment that fell short. The idea to create a live mixtape with six world-class orchestras playing short sets in various spaces, with audiences free to roam between them, had promise, but its execution was marred by poor planning and execution.
As the concert began, guests were treated to a brisk opening movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. However, it became clear that the event's organizers had not anticipated the logistical challenges of accommodating such a large audience in four smaller spaces. The result was a series of congested queues and bottlenecks, leaving many attendees feeling frustrated and unable to fully appreciate the music.
The smaller ensembles scattered throughout the venue fared no better. A performance by the Chineke! Junior Orchestra at the Clore Ballroom felt more like an exhibition than a concert, with some musicians looking distinctly uncomfortable on their individual podiums. Meanwhile, the industrial space beneath the Queen Elizabeth Hall was transformed into a nightclub, but even this couldn't salvage the uneven quality of Steve Reich's music.
The evening did offer some bright spots, however. A performance by the Aurora Orchestra in the Purcell Room was a musical adventure inspired by Gustav and Alma Mahler's time in the Alps. Although many attendees struggled to navigate the crowds, those who did manage to see the orchestra on stage were rewarded with some truly memorable moments.
Ultimately, the Classical Mixtape Live Takeover felt like an overambitious experiment that prioritized novelty over substance. The event's poor planning and execution led to a disjointed experience for many attendees, leaving them questioning the future of classical music in bite-sized chunks.
As the concert began, guests were treated to a brisk opening movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. However, it became clear that the event's organizers had not anticipated the logistical challenges of accommodating such a large audience in four smaller spaces. The result was a series of congested queues and bottlenecks, leaving many attendees feeling frustrated and unable to fully appreciate the music.
The smaller ensembles scattered throughout the venue fared no better. A performance by the Chineke! Junior Orchestra at the Clore Ballroom felt more like an exhibition than a concert, with some musicians looking distinctly uncomfortable on their individual podiums. Meanwhile, the industrial space beneath the Queen Elizabeth Hall was transformed into a nightclub, but even this couldn't salvage the uneven quality of Steve Reich's music.
The evening did offer some bright spots, however. A performance by the Aurora Orchestra in the Purcell Room was a musical adventure inspired by Gustav and Alma Mahler's time in the Alps. Although many attendees struggled to navigate the crowds, those who did manage to see the orchestra on stage were rewarded with some truly memorable moments.
Ultimately, the Classical Mixtape Live Takeover felt like an overambitious experiment that prioritized novelty over substance. The event's poor planning and execution led to a disjointed experience for many attendees, leaving them questioning the future of classical music in bite-sized chunks.
! i was super hyped about this event but honestly, it felt like they just phoned it in 
. six world-class orchestras is a pretty big deal, but somehow they managed to turn it into a chaotic free-for-all 
. and don't even get me started on the industrial space turning into a nightclub 
- totally not what i came for 
.
. but overall, it just felt like they were trying too hard to be edgy and innovative without putting in the effort 
. classical music doesn't have to be boring, i'm all for experimenting with new formats, but this just fell flat 
.
. they should've just stuck to a normal concert format and left it alone 
.
And don't even get me started on the industrial space sound system. It sounded like someone poured all the noise from a rave into one room and just hoped for the best 
I did enjoy the Mahler piece tho, it was like a mini-adventure in there! But overall, yeah, I can see why they say "novelty over substance" now 
I mean what's up with the logistical challenges they didn't plan for? Like, it was already clear from the beginning that the whole event was gonna be a bit of a mess 
and still they went ahead with it 
but that was like the highlight of my night 
I think if they'd scaled it back a bit and just focused on getting the music out there, things would've been alright 
. Even if an event doesn't work out as planned, it's still worth learning from the experience and using those lessons to improve future endeavors 
. Maybe this is a chance for the organizers to regroup and try again with a fresh perspective? After all, even mistakes can be an opportunity for growth 
.
It just feels like they got a bit too excited and lost sight of what's really important: the music 
. Maybe next time they'll get it right? Fingers crossed! 
I mean, who needs a bunch of tiny concerts and crowded spaces, right? It's just more fun to hang loose and see the bigger picture. And let's be real, some of those musicians were straight up lost up there 
Steve Reich's set was like trying to listen to a weird alarm clock... not my fave 
but in reality it was all about the logistics 
my friend tried to see 3 different performances but ended up stuck in one queue for ages 
meanwhile the music was just meh 
. The idea sounds amazing, but it's clear they didn't think it through. Who needs queues and bottlenecks when you're trying to enjoy some world-class music? 
... next time, they should've taken more feedback from attendees before going ahead with the event.