Julia Villagra wants you to enjoy your meal served with a
side of chamber music. More specifically, she wants to bring classical chamber
music and dining together, in an effort to make this genre of performance more
accessible and appealing to all.
Founded in 2011, Tertulia is Villagra’s answer to the
literal gap that exists between artist and audience in classical music
performance. ‘Tertulia’ is a Spanish term that describes a social gathering
with an artistic edge, and is the namesake for Villagra’s chamber music series,
which takes classical concerts out of traditional concert halls and into modern
New York City restaurants. She hopes to inspire a new appreciation for chamber
music in audiences who might not have sought access to it outside of a dining
environment.
Villagra explains on her website,
“We believe that anyone, young or old, can fall in love with
classical music. Musicians’ passion for their art is contagious, which is why
removing the distance between artist and audience is so critical. While
beautiful concert halls will never be obsolete, there are limiting factors that
make it challenging to engage new, younger listeners. It is Tertulia’s mission
to bring classical music to broader audiences by diversifying the concert
experience through creative presentations using non-traditional venues.”
The most recent Tertulia took place at Harding’s in the Flatiron District last Sunday evening, where the audience enjoyed classical compositions played by pianists, violinists, and cellists in between three courses of a prix fixe meal. Villagra played host that evening, a role she’s grown accustomed to, after past Tertulia performances at various Greenwich Village restaurants.
Villagra’s efforts have increased visibility for this genre of performance, challenging traditional ideas of how chamber music should be performed, while simultaneously attracting audiences that might otherwise have missed out.
Keep a lookout for more Tertulias around the city during the Spring 2013 Season.
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