Concert formats influence how audiences experience live classical music

Abstract Many people enjoy listening to live music. But what exactly does a live context contribute to people’s experience, and do different types of concerts influence the musical experience in different ways? In this study, we focus on the Western classical concert, which has been claimed to be in an existential crisis. One way in which practitioners are seeking to counter this crisis is by adapting the concert format. Our study was inspired by such artistic endeavors and conducted live concert experiments in an ecologically valid setting to explore the effects of the concert format on the audience’s aesthetic experience. Eleven chamber music concerts were organized, all of which presented the same three string quintets but differed regarding several format components. To represent the aesthetic experience of the audience ( N = 802) in an exhaustive way, self-report data, physiological responses, as well as camera recordings of facial expressions were collected. The analyses revealed that each concert format variant had a unique effect on the audience. Variants that differed the most from the standard format had the strongest influence on the audience’s experience, while also one concert that represented an ideal realization of the standard format, led to particularly positive experiences. Aesthetic emotions and heart rate were particularly susceptible to format changes, whereas appreciation of the music and the musical performance were not affected by the concert format. We found that (1) a high-quality concert venue can afford a more immersed experience and a higher appreciation of the concert as a whole; (2) explanations of the meaning of the pieces in a relatable, personal way during the concert help people connect emotionally with the pieces and increase tolerance towards contemporary pieces; (3) an intense musical experience and a satisfying social experience may compete with each other. Our results do not only broaden our scientific understanding of how contexts contribute to aesthetic experiences, but can also be of use for concert practitioners.