Candlelight concerts have been illuminating more than 100 cities around the world, and parent company Fever has launched a pilot program for smaller cities in addition to its focus on larger markets. Evansville is one of the first Midwest cities of its size to host a show.
The candlelight concerts are held in partnership with Saint Benedict Cathedral, 1328 Lincoln Ave. In 2023, Fever staged a Halloween concert and a holiday concert, and on Jan. 5, there will be a “Best of Hans Zimmer” concert at 6 p.m. and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and More at 8:30 p.m.
The Listeso String Quartet, a mix of local and regional musicians, performs among just over 1,000 LED candles of varying heights in every candlelight performance. Musicians for the Jan. 5 show are Erina Buchholz and new Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra Concertmaster Jack Bogard on violin, Mark Hatlestad on viola, and EPO/Eykamp String Quartet cellist Graham Cullen.
Jeremy Korba, Saint Benedict’s director of music, says Evansville’s culture and the arts are one of the factors that helped Fever choose the city for a concert. Also important was finding venues large enough to accommodate a full audience for the candlelight concerts. Saint Benedict, a Roman Catholic cathedral built in 1928 by Edward J. Thole in the Lombard-Basilica style, can hold more than 900 attendees.
“The natural acoustics in the cathedral are so good that the music just soars,” Korba says of the cathedral’s 65-foot ceilings. “Combine the sound with the beauty of the church, the overall experience is difficult to replicate in a traditional concert space.”
The candlelight concerts’ main objective, says Fever communications coordinator Amanda Boucault, is to “democratize the access to classical music. This innovative format represents a unique live musical experience through a varied offer of programs to meet all tastes.”
The cathedral itself is working on building out a sacred music series of events and adding a new pipe organ soon.
“We’re looking forward to offering our space to our community for not only music but also being a beacon of thought by holding conversations about the arts,” Korba says.
Click here to learn more and purchase tickets to upcoming candlelight concerts, of which Boucault says Fever is scheduling more in Evansville soon.
