Old Sacramento, not unlike other regions in the Sacramento Valley, struggled to bounce back after a lengthy shutdown due to COVID restrictions back in March 2020. And while faced with much adversity, it’s places like the California State Railroad Museum which ultimately opened safely and with great results.
One of the latest installments at this area destination are a series of shows dubbed Candlelight Concerts which feature classical twists on pop artists ranging from Pink to Coldplay, Queen to Adele, Imagine Dragons to Beyonce, and more. With two shows a night starting at 7pm and 9pm based on demand, these musical events feature an ensemble who’ll play more of the well-known repertoire from the night’s featured act.
Of worthy mention is the upcoming tribute to Nirvana, an Aberdeen, Washington-based band which took the world by storm with the release of their Diamond-selling ‘Nevermind’ record back in 1991.
Expect such song staples and fan favorites as “Come As You Are,” “In Bloom,” “Heart-Shaped Box,” “About a Girl,” “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and more.
We caught up with the fine folks at Fever, a group who curate a number of different events in myriad cities and other countries, to get the lowdown on their upcoming Candlelight series.
Rio Linda Online: When and where was your first Fever Candlelight presentation?
Fever: The first Candlelight Concert took place in 2019 in Madrid, Spain when Fever, who was already hosting more traditional classical music concerts, saw a need to make this genre more accessible to its users, aiming to reach a new demographic and create more affordable concerts. The success in Madrid and Europe led to further expansion, including their first US concert in New York. Since then, Candlelight Concerts are present in more than 100 cities worldwide, reaching millions of attendees and featuring a wide variety of themes and genres, from classical music to tributes to contemporary artists like Queen, ABBA, Coldplay, and EdSheeran.
Rio Linda Online: Who is choosing the material for each event?
Fever: Fever develops Candlelight Concerts’ programs based on a combination of recommendations from our in-house music curation team and research that takes into account global metrics and feedback from our audience and musicians. Our in-house music curation team consists of professional talented musicians dedicated to maintaining a globally recognized standard of excellence in Candlelight concert performances. This team meticulously evaluates and selects our musicians while also collaborating with them to tailor arrangements to local preferences.
Rio Linda Online: Where did you find your musicians for the Old Sacramento series of shows?
Fever: We are always hiring talented local musicians who align with our belief that classical music can reach a diverse audience and demonstrate this by performing compositions for all tastes. Candlelight Concerts provide a platform for musicians to connect with people from all over the world and create new opportunities to do what they love. Sacramento concerts will be performed by local string quartet musicians such as Range Ensemble and Listeso String Quartet, who demonstrate a deep passion for music and fit perfectly with our mission to democratize access to classical music.
Rio Linda Online: Do you use the same group in other regions or do you have a Rolodex of revolving players?
Fever: Sometimes when launching in a new city or working in cities very close by, we count on the support of our talented musicians from the region to bring the best musical experience for the audience. Musicians can apply to work with us and the Candlelight concerts’ team – formed by professional music curators – will evaluate the applications and get back to them. The team is also proactively searching for talents to be part of our worldwide network.
Rio Linda Online: Are there any age groups that you haven’t done these concerts for? Plans to do shows for toddlers, etc (ala Baby Einstein)?
Fever: Currently, most attendees at Candlelight concerts are between 18 and 40 years old, although we also attract an older audience. All guests must be at least 8 years old, and anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. We haven’t done concerts specifically for toddlers but in some cities like Barcelona, Glasgow, or Melbourne, we have Candlelight Kids concerts: Songs for Kids and Adults, dedicated to children between 4 and 12 years old, in
which a string quartet performs the melodies of the most iconic movies.
Candlelight: Tribute to Nirvana takes place Tuesday, May 28th in Old Sacramento at the California State Railroad Museum located at 125 I St in Sacramento. Tickets can be purchased at https://feverup.com/en/sacramento in advance or at the door for an extra charge. Tickets start at $37 and top out at $55. Eight years old or older only. Guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. At press time, advance tickets are already
sold out for the early 7pm showing, but the 9pm presentation still has tickets in all price zones.
