White noise?_其他_趣味英语-查字典英语网

White noise?

- A Guide to Kauai’s Magical North Shore, CNTraveler.com, June 9, 2016.

2. An unusual, sold-out classical performance took place one recent April night in the stone crypt of Harlem’s Church of the Intercession. The audience of about 150 filtered in, lugging appetizers and drinks, and found precious chairs or floor space. The ensemble of string musicians about to perform loitered, laughing together and sipping wine. A composer premiering a piece that night wore a hoodie.

“If you didn’t buy a ticket, come see me after,” said one of the organizers.

This is the decidedly casual and inviting atmosphere of Groupmuse performances—which typically take place in someone’s living room, and occasionally crypts. Groupmuse, a startup that organizes classical house concerts, began three years ago in Boston as the idea of Columbia University grad and classical music nut Sam Bodkin.

Groupmuse members can volunteer to host a concert at their homes, and Groupmuse finds the high-caliber musicians to perform, then posts upcoming concerts on its website. As a layer of security, Groupmuse requires concertgoers to become members via their Facebook or LinkedIn profiles. Hosts have to approve each concertgoer. Groupmuse imposes no charge but asks concertgoers to donate at least $10 directly to the musicians. In New York, the concerts sell out quickly.

The company now has about 40,000 members and has hosted about 1,500 concerts in Boston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. It’s currently expanding to smaller cities that have a stable of classical musicians, like Rochester, N.Y., and Cleveland. Midlevel cities are Bodkin’s dream destination: After all, he points out, New York doesn’t necessarily need “more art.”