Happy Wednesday, everyone! I hope you’re all having a great week. Personally, I always find the transition from December into January can be a tough one. After all the fun and festivities of the holidays, it feels a bit anticlimactic to get back to one’s everyday routine of work, chores and obligations. And the cold and darkness of winter aren’t exactly mood-boosting either! My best antidote for beating the post-Christmas blues? Scheduling some fun activities to keep that festive vibe going: whether that’s inviting friends over for dinner on a random Tuesday, hosting a mid-January party (stole this fabulous idea from Southern Living) or planning a fun night out. If you’re in need of some ideas for that last one, keep reading – I’ve got a great suggestion to share today!
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ve likely heard me talk about my preference for gifting experiences (rather than material presents) when it comes to holidays and special occasions. This past Christmas was no exception! While I still exchange physical gifts with my family – though on a smaller scale than we once did – I find an experience everyone can enjoy together is always what folks appreciate the most. So this Christmas, as a gift to my parents, Tania and I invited them to an event we’d been hearing great things about: a Candlelight Concert.
The Candlelight Concert series was launched by event platform Fever in 2019, and they’ve since held shows in more than 100 cities around the world. With over three million attendees in the last five years, the concept is clearly a success! I’d heard so many people rave about the concerts, and knew it was an experience my parents – both music lovers – would really enjoy.
Candlelight Concerts are unique for two particular reasons. First, they feature a traditional string quartet, but they don’t just play classical music. While they do host concerts featuring the works of great composers like Mozart, Bach and Vivaldi, they also play the music of contemporary artists from all genres and decades. Current offerings range from tributes to Taylor Swift and Adele to Whitney Houston and The Beatles. And second (in case the name didn’t already give it away) these concerts have an especially beautiful and unique ambience, because the quartet plays surrounded by thousands of (flameless!) candles. We sent my parents the schedule of upcoming concerts and asked them to pick their favourite, and they selected a tribute to one of the greatest bands of all time: Queen.
Toronto’s Candlelight Concerts take place in one of two historic locations: the Metropolitan Community Church or the Paradise Theatre. The concert we attended was held at the church, a beautiful building that dates back to 1889. In 1991, it became the home of the MCC, an inclusive and progressive church that champions LGBTQ+ rights. They are notable for performing the world’s first legalized same-sex marriage, all the way back in 2001!
The church has two levels, and where you sit depends on which zone you select when booking. We booked Zone D and sat on the side of the upper balcony. Even though we didn’t pay extra for ‘premium’ seats, I still think we got a pretty great view. We were looking right over the stage! And I’d known the candles would provide a beautiful ambience, but nothing prepared me for just how magical it would be.
After a brief introduction by one of the organizers, the Listeso String Quartet took their places on stage and the concert began. It was an hour long with no intermission – the perfect length, in my opinion – and I thought it had a great variety of music. The setlist included some of Queen’s most famous songs, with a few classical works by Puccini and Mozart sprinkled in. The classical songs made my mom, who’s a big opera fan, cry (in a good way!) I particularly loved the renditions of Killer Queen and Crazy Little Thing Called Love – two of my favourite Queen songs – but of course, the showstopper was Bohemian Rhapsody. I always love hearing music reimagined in new ways, so hearing the orchestral renditions of these iconic songs was pretty inspiring. The full setlist for the Queen concert can be viewed here, though note that it may change slightly for future shows.
The musicians were funny and personable, and entertained the audience with humorous anecdotes and interesting facts between songs. And they were very passionate musicians. It’s a good thing the candles are flameless, because I saw at least a couple get knocked over during particularly intense songs! I’m sure Freddie Mercury would have approved.
The organizers asked the audience to put our phones away for the duration of the concert, with the exception of the last song – Another One Bites The Dust – where audience members were encouraged to take as many photos and videos as they liked. You can view a video of the performance on my Instagram post here (it’s the fourth slide in the carousel.)
We all had a great time at the Candlelight Concert, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique live music experience! Even my dad was impressed, and he’s a discerning music fan (he’s a guitarist himself) so you know it’s got to be good. You can reserve tickets to an upcoming concert here: there’s a huge variety to choose from, so whether you’re a Swiftie or an Abbamaniac, a classic rock fan or a jazz aficionado, you’re sure to find something that suits you. Many of the concerts are also offered on multiple dates, so you can find one that fits your schedule. And as I mentioned earlier, the concerts are offered in over 100 cities around the world, so even my non-local readers should be able to find one closer to home! I’m especially intrigued by this upcoming tribute to the classic ladies of jazz. Looks like I might be booking another concert ticket soon!
Have you ever been to a Candlelight Concert – in Toronto or elsewhere? I’d love to hear what you thought of it!