A concert is a musical performance given by one musician or group of musicians in the presence of an audience. Concerts may be informal, such as a jam session or impromptu gathering of friends, or formal, like a classical music recital. A concert can also refer to a special appearance by a celebrity at an event such as a sports game or a charity benefit. Traditionally, the term has referred to a single piano player or violinist performing alone on stage. It has also been used to describe a performance of a multi-movement composition, such as a symphony or an opera.
In addition to the obvious differences in scale between concerts and recitals, the nature of a concert depends on the music, performers, and venue. Musicians who perform together regularly have a style that has become their signature. This can influence the way they dress and how they act in concert. Likewise, a particular musical genre has a recognizable style that attracts fans with similar dress and hairstyles. For example, hippie rock bands in the 1960s often wore long hair and sandals.
Concerts can take many forms and the audience’s experience varies according to their level of appreciation and familiarity with the artists. For example, a symphony or opera performance in an intimate theater will be a very different experience than a pop concert or rock festival with a large crowd.
Performing a piece of music in a live setting is an artistic challenge and an opportunity for the musicians to communicate with their audience. The experience is often a moving, uplifting, or entertaining one. When it is well executed, the audience is filled with a sense of elation and exuberance that is difficult to replicate in a recording studio.
The most memorable concerts in history are those that are extraordinary in scope and scale. For instance, the legendary Woodstock music festival in 1969 brought together a star-studded lineup of musicians who all turned in lifetime best performances. Jimi Hendrix, a true rock god, blew audiences away with his psychedelic guitar playing. The three days of music shaped the world as we know it and will forever be considered the greatest concert in history.
Another epic concert was the 1997 Paris concert by electronic music pioneer Jean Michel Jarre, which was part of a larger celebration of the 850th anniversary of the city of Moscow. The entire city was lit up for the show, which featured lights and lasers synchronized to the music. The spectacle was so impressive that it was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. It is said to be the largest open-air concert in history.