A concert is a musical performance given in public. The performance may be carried out by a solo performer (a recital), or by a group of performers such as a choir or an orchestra. Musical concerts are held in a variety of settings, from private houses and small nightclubs to dedicated concert halls and arenas. Less formal performances, typically by rock and pop musicians, are called gigs.
A classical music concert is typically arranged in the form of a series of movements, each based on a particular theme or motif. A single instrument, or a combination of instruments such as a violinist and cellist, is featured in each movement. The entire concert, including intermissions, lasts for about an hour or two.
Classical composers, from Vivaldi and his twelve-instrument concertino right up to Mozart and his duets, used this type of arrangement to give each musician a chance to show off their skills. It also provided a great deal of variety, change and contrast in the musical experience.
When the modern era brought amplified sound systems and lights that could do just about anything a light engineer dreamed of, concerts became very much like theatrical shows. Often the performance would include other entertainment devices, such as elaborate stage lighting, electronic imagery via an IMAG system or pre-recorded video, inflatable sets, art and artwork set pieces and various special effects such as theatrical smoke and fog, and even pyrotechnics. The concert would often be accompanied by choreographed dance or other forms of physical performance and there would be back-up singers to enhance the concert sound.
Many of these devices are now standard features of almost all concerts and it is generally accepted that the purpose of a concert is to provide the audience with an aesthetic and social experience of a musical work. Musicologists and media theorists have therefore begun to argue that all aspects of a concert, from seating arrangements, to the ritualization of behavior and the acoustics and lighting of the hall, to the dramaturgy of the program and the professionalization of the musicians, all serve to intensify this experience.
The informal names for a concert, used particularly by rock and popular musicians, are show and gig. In the US the word has also taken on additional meanings, with show being used to refer to any type of live performance and gig referring especially to informal performances. The use of these terms is expanding worldwide as the concert format is increasingly seen as a way for music artists to connect with their audiences and build their reputations. Concerts are becoming more and more varied, as the emphasis is placed on creating a unique and exciting entertainment event which will be remembered by the audience. This is also the motivation behind a number of performers who are known to augment concert sound with broadcast vocal tracks. This can also be true for some singing stars whose concerts may be augmented by dancing, sing-alongs and moshing.