Stoned concertgoer draws new audience to Queensland Symphony Orchestra
A rave review from a first-time orchestra concertgoer posted on social media has ignited interest among a new audience, and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra has responded with gratitude and a discounted ticket offer.
A rave review from a stoned orchestra concertgoer posted on social media has ignited interest among a new audience, and the non-profit music company that staged the performance has responded with humour, gratitude and a discounted ticket offer.
On Sunday, an anonymous user on the Reddit Brisbane online community created a thread bluntly titled: “I got high and saw the Queensland Symphony Orchestra”, which noted they were both a first-time attendee and a legal cannabis prescription holder via an online medical consultancy.
“F..k me dead what an experience,” the user wrote. “I didn’t know orchestra was such a rollercoaster. I thought it’d all be like ‘ladidadida’ but there were some pretty full on intense bits … The music fully overwhelmed me like I was in a cocoon. Watching the conductor and the bows moving together was fully hypnotic, I forgot what time it was … I don’t think I blinked at all. Is it always like this? Would recommend.”
Fittingly, the Sunday morning concert was titled Dreams and Stories: Imagination Takes Flight.
Conducted by Katharina Wincor and featuring yidaki/didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton, its program began with an overture from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and included J Strauss Jr.’s Tales of the Vienna Woods, Peter Sculthorpe’s Kakadu and Barton’s Sky Songs.
The candid, 200-word review attracted nearly 200 responses from a community that rarely discusses orchestral works, as well as several grateful and amused replies from performers who had played in the show: “I need to tell you, this has caused immense joy amongst the musicians,” wrote one.
On Monday afternoon, a new account created by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) started another community discussion thread that leaned into the cannabis connection with puns aplenty.
“We’ve been absolutely blown away by the high praise yesterday,” wrote the QSO on Reddit. “Thank you for lighting up our day! We’re thrilled to see so many different people coming together to enjoy and celebrate the beauty of a live orchestra.”
The QSO acknowledged that, as a non-profit, they don’t often have discounts – but for Reddit Brisbane readers, they offered a code for 20 per cent off its next concert performance, to be held on Friday and Saturday at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).
Its title? Blaze of Glory.
“That show features two unfinished works that spark a fire within us as we listen, but were never finished by their creators,” wrote the QSO on Reddit. “Hopefully, this takes the edge off and makes it a little easier to enjoy some tunes! Seriously though – thanks again for all the love, it absolutely made our year.”
With about 391,000 members, Reddit Brisbane is a vibrant hub of chatter relating to the Queensland capital and the people who live there. Other popular threads this month have centred on koalas spotted at Griffith University, an undercooked chicken burger from a fast food chain, and an artwork that draws an unfavourable comparison between the aesthetics of Paris, Los Angeles and the upcoming home of the 2032 Olympic Games.
The QSO declined an interview request on Tuesday, and instead supplied a statement to The Australian, which began: “We know that a person’s first live orchestral concert can be a truly memorable experience and who are we to judge what makes it memorable for them?”
“Yes, the approach taken by our new fan on Reddit was unorthodox but we were blown away by their praise and the incredibly receptive response QSO received from other Redditors,” said the statement. “We’re thrilled to see so many different people coming together to enjoy and celebrate the beauty of a live orchestra. The original Reddit post and QSO’s response sparked a beautiful conversation about music and orchestra.”
Like other state-based symphony orchestras, the QSO is a publicly-funded not-for-profit.
In June, the company announced its next round of funding through 2025-2028 would total about $9.1m – or $2.28m per year for four years – via the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework (NPAPF), alongside recipients including opera, dance, circus and theatre companies.
“What most warmed our soul was reading comments from people who expressed curiosity about QSO and a genuine desire to experience a live orchestral concert for themselves,” said the statement. “QSO is a not-for-profit arts organisation, so we’re not often in a position to offer discounts but it was clear from the thread that a small saving may help more people to experience the majesty and marvel of a live orchestra.”
The company reported that its discount had “seen a surge in ticket sales” for the Blaze of Glory performances, as well as other upcoming full-priced concerts.
“We look forward to welcoming more of our new friends alongside our longstanding fans at a QSO concert soon,” said the orchestra in its statement.
By taking advantage of the sudden and unexpected interest from new communities, the QSO appears to be fulfilling its stated purpose of “delivering exceptional performances and engaging with diverse audiences”.
On Reddit in recent days, that outreach has extended to addressing queries from potential attendees who wondered about the dress code at their events, which are widely perceived to be much more formal than the average rock or pop concert.
“Don’t worry – going to the orchestra is a bit like going to the movies,” wrote the QSO on Reddit. “Some people dress up and make a night of it, some people just wear a T-shirt and jeans. There’s no judgment here!”
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