Illuminates Tampa Bay Performers
. . .
Fever orchestrates candlelit musical events every month around the world, and in Tampa Bay.
What started as an app is now a “data-driven entertainment platform.” Headquartered in Europe, Fever’s performances in over 100 cities are led by local musicians as concerts pull themes from superstars (Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran), mass-adored media (anime and K-pop shows populate the schedule), and holiday shows pop up throughout the year.
For the December iteration of Fever’s Candlelight Concerts in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, the company focused on fan favorites like The Nutcracker and music from classical artists including Brahms, Dvořák and Piazzolla.
In addition to employing talented musicians based in Tampa Bay, the candlelight performances employ the area’s talented dancers to showcase live music and dance.
Running through January 21 – with many more shows scheduled in St. Pete and Tampa through March – these holiday-themed candlelight ceremonies showcase the whimsical nature of stringed instruments and enhance the flawless nature each dancer expresses with grace. The two art forms pair well with one another, filling in awkward silences or gaps with artistic demonstrations.
At Ybor City’s Centro Asturiano de Tampa and the Tampa Museum of Art, or St. Petersburg’s Coastal Creative or First Baptist Church, talented musicians on violas, violins and cellos perched onstage with their instruments, poised for the performance.
The musicians performed throughout the event, with dancers stepping onstage for selected songs. The audience responded well to this, showing equal admiration and gratitude toward the dance numbers and musical segments, and each performer overflowed with talent.
Prior to the enlightening performances, concert-goers piled in, awed at the artificial candles peppering the walkways leading to assigned seating zones and the stage. Rows upon rows of candles embellished the already beautiful spaces with an enchanting glow only produced through candlelight.
On top of the stages, copious candles circled the musicians, lighting up their sheet music and faces for the audience, while another row lined the front of the stage, giving a glow to the dancers.
Ballerinas traipsed onstage, unleashing pirouettes and fouettés in front of the musicians, inspiring the crowd and drawing tears in the audience members. Each number sparked uproarious applause from the audience, leaving them wanting more.
Standout performances included the duet between strings and ballerinas for Tchaikovsky’s The Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy. Ballerinas disguised as fairies whirled through dreamlands, evoking wonder and courage in the onlookers as the incredible musicians frolicked through the fairytale on their instruments.
Another remarkable sequence flipped through Massenet’s masterpiece Thaïs: Méditation, examining a relationship between a monk and a courtesan. The monk convinced the woman to quit her current lifestyle and give herself a more worthwhile purpose. Drawn to the idea but startled, the courtesan suffers a breakdown, collapsing onto the ground.
The 65-minute performance dazzled the crowd. Thankfully, Fever hosts a couple of shows each month, ranging in theme but always introducing skillful local artists, driving up interest and engagement in the local art scene.
According to Fever, “Candlelight Concerts are an original series of music concerts created by Fever, which aim to democratize access to classical music by allowing people all over the world to enjoy live candlelit performances by local musicians.”
If you missed the December performances of the Nutcracker Candlelit Ballet, Centro de Asturiano in Ybor City has two shows slated for Sunday, January 21. The first show kicks off at 6:30 pm, and the final show begins with a tendu at 9 pm.
Not a fan of Tchaikovsky or traditional classical music? Listeso string quartet tackles Taylor Swift’s repertoire on January 20 at 9 pm inside The First Baptist Church in St. Petersburg. The same quartet will perform a Coldplay tribute in the same location — (Saturday’s performance is sold out, but other shows are scheduled on February 10 and March 8), with an Ed Sheeran tribute on February 15 at 8:30 pm at St. Petersburg’s Coastal Creative.
With Valentine’s Day on the way, a 65-minute show coalesces twice on February 14 (6:30 pm and 9 pm) at Centro de Asturiano for the holiday. This concert focuses on a mix of classical repertoire – from “Libertango” by Astor Piazzolla to “Fantasy Overture” from Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet to modern takes like “My Heart Will Go On” by James Horner and Céline Dion from Titanic and “Moon River” by Henry Mancini from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Ticket information can be found at feverup.com.
