This video is not only one of the less likely mashups of all time, it also illustrates classical music’s image problem. First – the music. The filmed performance is Turnage’s ‘Hammered out’, which is part based on Beyonce songs, so the combination is not entirely random.
But as I watched, it just struck me, as you see the BBC SO and Beyonce juxtaposed in a fairly unusual way, that the video perfectly illustrates why classical music struggles with younger audiences. Beyonce is sassy, sexy, full of energy and just very now. The BBC SO are static, wearing totally outmoded dress. They might be playing their hearts out but the presentation does nothing to show this. No wonder younger people don’t get so excited about classical music. I know who I’d rather see in concert on the basis of this…
