Candlelight Concerts put a classical twist on Queen, ABBA

The concerts are lit, but the vibe is chill. Some 3,000 sparkling candles (electric) impart a warm glow to the rock, pop, Classical, pop and rock favorites that are the hallmarks of Candlelight Concerts, an international phenomenon making its Hamptons debut this summer.

The first few shows have already created a buzz with audiences at The Clubhouse in East Hampton and Canoe Place Inn and Cottages in Hampton Bays. "The room surprised me," said Matt Rubenstein, The Clubhouse's entertainment director. "Half of the guests I've never seen before in the venue. And half of them I would not have expected to show up to something like this. It was cool to sort of see it unfold, not knowing what the response would be."

THE FLICKER OF AN IDEA

Daniela Alejandra Santiago, the New York producer of the series developed by live-entertainment promoter Fever, explained that the concerts started in 2019 and are now in more than 100 countries. "We identified that there was a gap in Classical music. Growing up as a millennial, Classical music wasn't part of my heritage,” she said.

The concerts feature chamber music by Vivaldi; jazz ensembles playing standards from the 1930s and '40s; and the most popular, string quartets transforming pop and rock hits into Classical covers. "There's this bridge now," Santiago added. "Millennials are experiencing music of our time on strings and also tapping into Classical artists like Vivaldi and Bach."

Up next  is "A Tribute to Queen" July 14 at Canoe Place Inn. String quartets will also perform hits by ABBA, Queen and Fleetwood Mac into mid-August. While you can still hum along with "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Dancing Queen," and “Rhiannon,” they sound transformed when played on violin, viola and cello.

"It's a beautiful vibe, kind of a perfect date night ," said Scott Williams of Main Street Hotels, the managers of Canoe Place Inn, adding. "The ballroom that they'll be performing in has this incredible musical history — Count Basie, Duke Ellington, the Ramones, Jefferson Starship, Billy Joel. There's an amazing legacy that we want to bring back in a way that's both unusual and experiential for people."

MUSIC FOR ALL THE SENSES

Spending an hour among a sea of softly flickering candles, with soothing music, in a multisensory immersive experience has audiences not just entertained, but transported. "There's a place your mind goes to because you are not caught up in the identity of the performer, you're caught up in the sensory experience of the music," said Williams.

If you want to hear some high quality oldies, why not go for Baroque? Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons," among the most beloved violin concertos of all time, feature the sounds of spring and summer, fall and winter. Running streams, rustling leaves and singing birds — Vivaldi captured them all in the early 1700s, DIVISI’s Amp’d String Quartet will bring them out in sparkling tones at The Clubhouse on Aug. 7.

If you're not familiar with Classical music, don't worry. "Between every two or three songs the musicians explained what the song was, how they chose it, a little background," said Rubenstein. "They were engaged with the audience. It was educational, informative and funny. Even if you're someone like me who has never seen or chooses to listen to classical music, you just can't help but enjoy it."

Audience reactions have ranged from singing along to crying. Santiago chuckled as she admitted that her first Candlelight Concert brought a wave of emotions, including tears. "I was sobbing like a baby," she recalled, and she wasn't alone. "It's cathartic."

Rubenstein said the experience is different from most concerts. "It's extremely relaxing but also gets you going at the same time. It touches your senses, especially with the atmosphere. You are present when you are in the room, and you're dialed in to the stage and to the artists. It really captures you."