People usually support classical music in a formal manner - that is, attending formal concerts or performances. Rarely do people get together to enjoy classical music in a less formal environment. They might listen to recordings of music at home, but mostly in isolation, not as a group.
We thought about this, and decided to create a kind of informal and social gathering at our home where people can meet and just share in the enjoyment of classical music.
It all started when we joined a formal society more than 10 years ago in Pretoria, South Africa - The Friends of the Opera, Pretoria - where members of the society met once a month to listen to opera recordings or watch opera videos. Other related activities were also arranged, in a structured manner. We enjoyed these meetings thoroughly, and when we left South Africa for the Middle East at the start of 1995, it did not take us long to miss these monthly gatherings.
In Abu Dhabi (UAE), where we lived between 1995 and mid-1998, we quickly set up these Evenings of Classical Music, first with a few friends, and later of course more new friends joined as the word started to go around. We moved to Bahrain at the start of the summer 1998, and almost immediately continued where we left off in Abu Dhabi. We used to arrange our get-togethers once a month, but since January 2000 the frequency increased to twice a month.
As friends, we get together twice a month at our house, on a Wednesday evening, starting at 18h30. I present recordings of classical music during the evening - orchestral, instrumental, chamber, opera, choral or song - in either audio or video format (all recordings used are commercially available). About 19h30 or 20h00 we have a break to share a meal, and then continue with the music until around 22h00.
The music usually relates to a specific subject, and I try to share whatever interesting information I could gather. In line with the casual format, everyone is encouraged to express comments or share opinions or other information.
We are not experts in the field of classical music. We only love it (and personally I love it with a passion), and it gives us great joy to share it with other people.
We want to encourage our friends to tell their friends about these evenings and bring them along. We would like to see the group grow, and in a small or modest way stimulate the support for classical music.
All recordings come from my personal collection, which means that the subject for each evening is limited to what I have available.
