Music plays a key role in art, history and culture, so it makes sense that museums around the country are finding ways to incorporate music into their offerings. Whether it’s a chamber ensemble playing along with silent films or a DJ spinning for a silent disco, visitors will find a variety of ways to enjoy music at these museums.
The Getty
Los Angeles
The Getty in Los Angeles enjoys worldwide renown for its art collection, but its offerings of free music programs are almost as impressive. From May through August, Saturdays Off the 405 allows guests to revel in an evening of outdoor entertainment that includes live music from a variety of bands, DJ sets, and views of the city skyline. Also during the summer, Friday Flights is a monthly series of “interdisciplinary happenings” that invite L.A.-based artists to use music, performance, film and other mediums in the galleries to forge new connections to the collections and exhibits.
In the winter, Sounds of L.A. features two concerts each month with performances from up-and-coming classical masters. Throughout the year, the Getty also hosts Saturday Nights at the Getty, a contemporary performance series in the Harold M. Williams Auditorium.
www.getty.edu
Birmingham Museum of Art
Birmingham, Alabama
This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the annual Lavona Rushton Concert at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham, Alabama. And because Mr. and Mrs. William J. Rushton III sponsor the event, it’s always free to the public. This past fall, renowned 30-year-old Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko performed, and the concert featured pianist Sean Chen the year before.
But guests don’t have to wait a year to enjoy live music at BMA. The first Friday of every month, the museum hosts Art After 5, an evening that blends art and entertainment through live music, art classes, specialty cocktails and tapas tastings. Live music performances vary every month, featuring jazz duos, local songwriters and area bands.
