“Anyone who has been tutted at for turning the pages of their program too loudly may be permitted a wry smile at news of the latest innovation: an app which texts notes straight to ticket-holders’ phones,” writes Hannah Furness in Saturday’s (6/26) Telegraph (U.K.). “The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is the first in Britain to embrace a new app, [tested] in Cadogan Hall earlier this year and set to be used at a new ‘Myths and Fairytales’ season in a specially-designated seating area. The app, Octava, is intended to ‘assist the participant through a musical journey,’ with Chris Evans, director of press and marketing at RPO, saying its tone is ‘specifically aimed towards new and potentially younger audiences.’ … EnCue by Octava, which was developed in the US, is described as a ‘concert-enhancing app that delivers real-time program notes to audiences’ mobile or tablet devices.’ … Its publicity material states that it uses ‘Darkscreen Technology,’ to avoid distracting those sitting around its user. The RPO said it had received positive feedback from trials and concerts during the spring, and will now roll it out in a designated seating area.”
Posted June 26, 2017
