Bengaluru can now bask in the melodious glow of Candlelight Concerts

It’s that time of the year when the city is abuzz with events — each as exciting and interesting as the next — and there doesn’t seem to be enough time to enjoy them all. So if you are ruing missing out the last Candlelight Concert, don’t. According to the organisers, this immersive affair is to be a regular on the city’s musical landscape.

Even if you haven’t had a chance to attend one of these concerts, you would’ve chanced upon images of musicians rapturously performing amidst the golden glow of a thousand candles. Candlelight Concerts are tributes and previous editions in the city have been an homage to The Beatles, Coldplay, Mozart and Chopin, and more. Their upcoming show in the city is a tribute to RD Burman.

Striking the first note

According to Deepa Bajaj, Country Manager India, Fever Originals, Candlelight Concerts was launched in India in June 2024. “Our first concerts were in Bombay and Delhi, and after noting the positive response there, we gradually expanded to other cities. Our first show in Bangalore was in September, followed by Chennai and Hyderabad in November,” says Deepa.

Candlelight Concerts is owned by Fever Labs Inc, a company which was registered in the United States in 2014. Though the concerts were launched in 2019, and have since been a resounding success around the world, they began as a rather low-key interlude.

“The initial concerts were in a small room with 300 real candles and a program which comprised pure classical music, and an audience of family and friends. The experience was greatly appreciated as it allowed people to immerse themselves in the music,” says Deepa.

She adds how the organisers wanted to create an atmosphere where music was the sole focus as there are lot of distractions at most live performances — be it people conversing or placing orders for food and drink or milling about— which is not the most conducive for musicians.

“Our aim was to make music the hero with the support of the ambience. We stayed true to that mission of bringing classical music to the forefront, but we chose do it in a way that would bridge the gap between classical music and contemporary audiences. As a result, these concerts are a quiet experience where one is engaged exclusively with the music.”

At a Candlelight Concert
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

It can get toasty quite quickly with real candles and it doesn’t help if artistes are sweating through a performance, which is why the organisers now use specially crafted LED candles. ”We use the same ones at all our across the world to bring in that full experience without safety and temperature issues. In India, depending on the size of the venue, we use anywhere from 6000-12,000 candles,” says Deepa.

Melody makers

With Candlelight Concerts posed at becoming a regular feature in multiple Indian cities, Deepa says their selection of musicians and the set list follows a certain rationale.

“Firstly, we work with local musicians in every city. Secondly, based on our data and research, we create a localised playlist for each venue. We don’t follow a template-based approach, but cater to our audiences in a more holistic way. That is also why our Best Movie Soundtracks consist of local ones that audiences will connect to.”

Now on the road for five years, with concerts in over 300 cities, the organisers have identified global best sellers and fan favourites.

At a Candlelight Concert
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“We only work with local artistes because our aim is to give them a platform and make classical music an accessible, regular experience, and not an one-off thing,” she says.

Deepa adds that one of the criteria for selecting musicians is that they should have studied classical music and be able to read music, “even if they are playing a tribute to The Beatles, because we get arrangements done in the classical format, which they need to be able to read, rehearse and then perform.”

“Also, at our events, the artistes talk about the music they will be performing with the audience. Listeners get to learn little tidbits about the music they’re listening to which helps them connect to it better. They should be able to have a conversation with the audience about the music.”

To bring about a greater appreciation for classical music, the organisers believe the performing artistes should value the work of other musicians, “especially as they will not be playing their original music, but tributes. One should feel joy in moving to the music of someone else. You perform beautifully If you respect another musician’s work and play that wonderfully as well.”

The team has built up a healthy roster of artistes in every city. “While we tend to have regulars, we also keep bringing in other artistes. While we have fan favourites in Delhi and Bombay, we are building a community to bring long term stability to musicians.”

The next Candlelight Concert is a tribute to RD Burman on December 7 at Hyatt Centric Hebbal Bengaluru, with other shows lined up throughout the month.

Go to liveyourcity.com to follow the Candlelight Concert schedule.