” ‘Please silence or turn off your phones.’ At the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, such a request may soon go the way of the rotary dial,” writes Andy Lagrimas in Wednesday’s (1/24) Tallahassee Democrat (FL). “At last Friday’s concert, ‘The Ring Without Words,’ TSO invited its audience to test out the new EnCue app, which offered real-time commentary, program notes and behind-the-scenes information to supplement the live music…. As one of only 20 orchestras worldwide testing this new technology, TSO is … making classical music accessible to a wider audience…. ‘The Ring Without Words’ … Henk de Vlieger’s condensed arrangement of orchestral excerpts from Richard Wagner’s epic and gargantuan ‘Ring’ cycle runs more than hour… The entire work presents a daunting challenge for newcomers and seasoned opera fans alike…. With richly informative yet concise notes by FSU Opera Director Douglas Fisher, combined with footage of the TSO’s rehearsal process, the EnCue app was a welcome companion that helped make Wagner’s sprawling masterpiece a little more accessible…. Reactions to the EnCue app from TSO patrons were decidedly mixed…. Regardless of how one felt about EnCue, the TSO is to be applauded for their willingness to embrace and explore innovative approaches.”
Posted January 25, 2018
