It’s unusual for classical music presenters to “reinvent the wheel” per se, but there’s a new kid on the block! MESS NYC (Mise en Scène Studios) is creating a new model for classical music concerts and doing a kick-ass job.

Think of this as a fun social event — meet and mingle with an open bar — and classical music sprinkled in for good measure. It’s not your traditional concert experience where the music comes first, but rather driven entirely by the socializing. While the music plays a significant part of the whole experience, it’s not the sole destination.

It’s really a fantastic model.

And it’s not just the experience, it’s the price point at which anyone can access it. The first time at one of MESS’s intimate Premier Events is free. Then, for $99/year, there are numerous concerts with open bars. We have no idea how they can sustain this low cost for the consumer, but it’s an amazing value for anyone looking to have a great afternoon/night out on the town.

Not only is MESS looking to make classical music social and fun, but the organization is thinking about providing employment to artists. One part of its mission is “to provide better jobs and opportunities to young, world-class artists” and build “jobs for artists with unparalleled economic and creative continuity as well as prime exposure in the world's largest and most important performing arts market.”

No Strings with Leah Crocetto

On Sunday, February 10, opera star Leah Crocetto sang her favorite romantic jazz and cabaret tunes with MESS founder Lachlan Glen at the piano. Hidden into a little gallery on East 46th Street, it was fabulous to hear and experience Leah’s exceptional artistry.

“When I choose music, I only select music I can relate to and that I like and that has some kind of message to share. When you see me in recital, it’s always the deepest part of me,” she said in a previous Classical Post interview.

Not only did she have a sold-out Carnegie Hall debut recently, she opens Washington National Opera’s 2019-2020 season this fall in Verdi’s Otello, playing the role of Desdemona alongside Russell Thomas’s Otello. She also has a lot more on tap for the rest of 2019, including concerts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel and Dallas Opera’s four-act Don Carlo in late 2019.

MESS NYC is looking to sustain the classical music genre in the modern, technology-driven world and it is making a compelling stride toward that end. We can’t wait to see what else the organization can produce. Learn more on MESS NYC’s website.