Chrono Melodies: A Journey Through Time

On a recent Thursday at 7pm in Indianapolis, some of the city’s art enthusiasts were still concluding their workday, while others were arranging schedules with a babysitter, or enjoying a pre-performance meal.

A contrasting atmosphere was taking place at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Inside the Hilbert Circle Theatre, several hundred aficionados of classical music were already settled, eagerly awaiting Music Director Jun Märkl to kick off a program featuring Beethoven, Falla, and Strauss, Jr. The concert was by no means an unusual early offering on the orchestra’s schedule: the identical program on Saturday evening was set to commence at 5:30pm.

“We received a lot of input that 8pm is too late for a Saturday,” explains Edward Parsons, the vice president of artistic operations for the Indianapolis Symphony. “Thus, 5:30 means you can have dinner after the performance. You finish at 7:30 and can make an 8pm dinner reservation. Audiences genuinely appreciate it and it’s our most favored time for classical performances.”

More and more, orchestras throughout the U.S. are identifying themselves as a service sector that caters to the lifestyles of audiences, which have shifted earlier since the return from the pandemic. Shows at 7:30pm are now predominantly the standard in numerous arts and entertainment domains.