It’s been a tough year to introduce a new music director—and to give a proper farewell to a departing one. In April, the Oregon Symphony rolled out “Studio125,” a comprehensive digital hub that includes “Classical Sessions: Carlos@18,” a biweekly series honoring the eighteen-year legacy of Carlos Kalmar, whose final season as music director occurred during the pandemic season of 2020-21. The channel features newly released musical content along with archival concerts, interviews, stories, and more. Also included are “Essential Sounds,” a seven-episode series honoring essential workers during the pandemic; “Symphony Storytime” for families and educators; and short performances recorded from Oregon Symphony musicians’ homes and communities. Among the archived concerts at the site is Gabriel Kahane’s 2018 emergency shelter intake form, an oratorio about homelessness and housing insecurity. The drive to produce more digital content stems from a patron survey about digital content, with more than 90 percent of respondents saying they expected online programming to play a role in their cultural lives going forward. The orchestra says “Studio 125” will serve as an Oregon Symphony community hub, with footage from events and programs.
