The concerts are broadcast in real time – uniting online viewers with the in-hall audience – and are available to watch for 30 days.

The performances reach greater than concert hall capacity, with around 2,500 people collectively experiencing each event.

The Orchestra’s Chief Conductor, Mark Wigglesworth conducts the musical milestone in Poole (4 Dec) alongside pianist Boris Giltburg before touring to Portsmouth Guildhall (5 Dec)

 

When members of the public returned to concert halls in 2021, it was presumed demand for online concerts would soon dissipate. As the BSO prepares its 100th Digital Concert this December, its audiences continue to defy expectations.

The BSO was one of the first major British orchestras to return to the stage on broadcasting its first livestreamed concert from Lighthouse, Poole on 30 September 2020. Today, nearly 2,500 people experience each of the events: a core online audience of over 1,000 people joins up to 1,500 more at Lighthouse, Poole.

The Digital Concerts are broadcast on a Wednesday night, at 7.30pm. In 2024/25 – the BSO’s fifth season of live broadcasts – it shares 17 main season performances with audiences around the world.

The broadcasts have captured historic moments, such as: Kirill Karabits’s symphonic discoveries from Ukraine and beyond; horn player Felix Kleiser’s UK concerto debut in November 2021; and the moment that Stefan Jackiw’s violin bow snapped mid-performance before going viral. The Orchestra has shared premiere performances with audiences far beyond Poole, Dorset – with new works by Anna Korsun and Kate Whitley’s Falling (written for BSO Resound, RNS Moves and full orchestra) among them.

Since 2020, the BSO has invested in its in-house team, which has delivered the popular series since its inception: five members of staff form unite with a professional sound engineer and presenter to deliver each concert. Broadcaster Martin Handley welcomed audiences to the first event in 2020 and introduces the Orchestra’s 100th broadcast, in December. Handley is a core part of the Orchestra’s team, which includes leading music broadcasters Catherine Bott, Katie Derham, Tom Service and Sarah Walker.

The concerts have reached an estimated online audience of more than 150,000 since 2020, boasting regular viewers from throughout the UK – and people in 118 countries, with the BSO’s most frequent international viewers based in the USA, Italy, France, Germany and South Korea.


Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Executive, Dougie Scarfe OBE, said: “What has been achieved over the last four years has been completely extraordinary and an example of live music’s ability to connect and unite people – wherever they are in the world. The success of the broadcasts is testament to the special relationship between the BSO and its loyal audiences, without whom we would be nothing.

“There is clear evidence the series has made a deep impact on people’s lives – in particular, from people who would otherwise be unable to access live culture due to rural isolation, ill health, or disability. It has captured remarkable moments – such as when Kirill Karabits returned to the stage following the outbreak of war in Ukraine – and deepened our connection with education and care partners who access our music-making beyond the concert hall. As we look to our 100th Digital Concert and beyond it is with a deep sense of pride in the BSO’s musicians, staff, and audiences, who, together, continue to create these magical moments.”

 

Carol Paige, Section Principal Second Violin and Musician Trustee, said: “Every Wednesday evening I look out and see the most amazing sight – one that I will never take for granted following the pandemic – our wonderful audience!  Knowing that almost the same number of people are watching and listening to our live broadcasts online feels very special; it’s an unexpected legacy of the last few years and one that has changed the way we now reach out to people around the UK and beyond.

“We’ve received a lot of very kind and generous comments from people who have been able to connect with us through our broadcasts; not only allowing us to keep music alive throughout the pandemic, but also allowing us to open up the concert hall to an entire audience that otherwise would not hear or see us play such wonderful music!”

 

 

Chief Conductor Mark Wigglesworth conducts the BSO’s 100th Digital Concert – on Wednesday 4 December from Lighthouse, Poole. Tickets for online access £10. For full details see bsolive.com

-ENDS-

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

For more information please contact:
Claire Rawles | crawles@bsorchestra.co.uk | 07860 776646 or Edward Christian-Hare | Edward.Christian-Hare@premiercomms.com | 07870 859633