BSO's Casual Fridays :: Listen to Stravinsky While Scrolling on an iPad

On Friday, January 15, the Boston Symphony Orchestra launches "Casual Fridays," a new audience initiative designed to make concerts more affordable and accessible for the next generation of attendees. "Casual Friday" performances will be offered on three Friday-evenings during the 2015-16 season, January 15, February 12, and March 18, with significantly reduced ticket prices ranging from $25 to $45.

The concert will feature two works: "Mozart's Concerto in C for Flute and Harp, K.299," with soloists Elizabeth Rowe, flute and Jessica Zhou, harp, and Stravinsky's "Petrushka" (1911 version). Both are conducted by Fran�ois-Xavier Roth.

In addition, for the first time ever at Symphony Hall, the BSO is doing a pilot project to experiment with iPad content as a way to enhance the concert experience, providing 110 devices to be used by patrons seated in a designated section at the rear of the orchestra floor.

"Casual Fridays" also introduce audiences to the people behind the music through informal conversations; on January 15, BSO bass trombonist James Markey will speak to the audience from the Symphony Hall stage. (Speakers for the February 12 and March 18 programs will be announced at a later date.)

This new concert series also encourages concert-goers to wear their favorite casual attire to Symphony Hall, and to mingle and share their experiences at a pre-concert reception and a post-concert gathering in Higginson Hall, where live music, snacks, and a cash bar will be offered.

Further Details On iPads At Symphony Hall

Designed to enhance the listening experience, the BSO-provided iPads will feature digital content exclusive and relevant to that evening's performance, including video interviews with the featured soloists; video podcasts focused on biographical information about the composers; scores of the pieces being performed; and videos explaining the evening's musical works, including (for the January 15 program) an analysis of the music being performed, a harp demonstration, and a synopsis of the Petrushka story. Patrons seated in this designated area will also have the chance to get a close-up look at the conductor from the orchestra's point of view through special video screens that will be set up on both sides of the hall. The BSO was the first orchestra to provide extensive digital content to patrons for use during concerts through orchestra-provided tablets with the launch of its Lawncast program at Tanglewood in Summer 2014.

Upcoming Concerts

The "Casual Friday" concert on February 12 will feature BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons leading the orchestra in a Shakespeare-themed program, as part of a tribute commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Bard's death. Selections include Strauss's"Macbeth," Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet," and the world premiere of the BSO-commissioned Sonnets, "Tone Poems for English Horn and Orchestra" by George Tsontakis, featuring BSO principal English horn player Robert Sheena. Conductor St�phane Den�ve presents Saint-Sa�ns's "Symphony No. 3, Organ," and John Williams's "Violin Concerto" with soloist Gil Shaham at the final 2015-16 "Casual Friday" concert on March 18.

"Casual Friday" tickets, $25-$45, are available through SymphonyCharge (617-266-1200 or 888-266-1200), in person at the Symphony Hall Box Office (301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston), or online through .