Guide to the Strings by Candlelight concerts in NYC

The concert series, produced by live event ticketing platform TodayTix, features a string quartet performing new arrangements of classic and beloved showtunes.

Seeing a lavish Broadway musical with grand sets and costumes, dozens of performers, and a full orchestra is spectacular, but there's also a unique magic to performances where all the pomp and circumstance is stripped away and all that's left is the audience and the music. Strings by Candlelight, a new concert series in NYC, aims to capture that magic.

The venue, St. Bartholomew's Church, is opulent in itself, so no further sets are needed — inside are only a string quartet, the audience, and more than 1,000 candles. Each performance is dedicated to the work of iconic musical theatre composers, so theatre fans will hear familiar tunes from classic shows in a whole new way. Even people who aren't Broadway aficionados but enjoy other live music events like symphonies and orchestra concerts can appreciate the lush sound of the music. With the help of spoken interludes, they'll also learn more about the songs along the way.

The next Strings by Candlelight concerts are tributes to Stephen Sondheim on May 17 and Rodgers and Hammerstein on June 14. Discover the answers to frequently asked questions below, and then get tickets to experience one (or more!) of these unique events.

Get Sondheim Tribute: Strings by Candlelight tickets now.

Get Rodgers & Hammerstein Tribute: Strings by Candlelight tickets now.

What is Strings by Candlelight?

Strings by Candlelight is a concert series in which a string quartet performs instrumental renditions of beloved musical theatre songs. Strings by Candlelight is produced by TodayTix, an online ticketing platform for theatre and other live events.

Where is Strings by Candlelight in NYC?

Strings by Candlelight takes place at St. Bartholomew's Church at 325 Park Ave. in Manhattan. The historic venue is only a 15-minute walk from the Theatre District and is also located within walking distance of other Midtown attractions like Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, the Museum of Modern Art, and the shops on Fifth Avenue.

How long is Strings by Candlelight?

Each Strings by Candlelight concert lasts approximately 75 minutes with no intermission.

What is the age recommendation for Strings by Candlelight?

The concert is recommended for ages 6 and up, and all attendees under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The content of the performance is suitable for all ages, but very young children may have difficulty sitting through the whole thing.

Who are the Strings by Candlelight performers?

Each Strings by Candelight concert features the Tribute Strings Quartet, an all-female and non-binary ensemble consisting of violinists Mazz Swift and Lucy Voin, violist Miranda Sielaff, and cellist Clara Kennedy.

There are no vocalists; only instrumental versions of songs are played at Strings by Candlelight. (Though if you know the songs, you'll probably hear the lyrics in your head!)

What songs are played at Strings by Candlelight?

Each concert has a different theme and, therefore, a different set list of showtunes. The first Strings by Candlelight concert in NYC was a tribute to the late composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, and it featured selections from his shows including Into the Woods, Company, Sunday in the Park With George, Merrily We Roll Along, and Follies.

The June 14 Strings by Candlelight concert centers on the musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein, which include The Sound of Music, Carousel, and Oklahoma!

Are photos and video allowed at Strings by Candlelight?

Taking photos and videos is allowed within the venue and during select performances. Audiences are encouraged to sit back and enjoy the concert, but every event includes opportunities to capture the moment and share the music.

What to expect at Strings by Candlelight

Like in a traditional theatre, the main lights go down as the show is about to begin, and the audience and performers are truly left only in the glow of the candles. The grandeur of St. Bart's and orchestral nature of the music gives the concerts a feel akin to a performance at Carnegie Hall.

Interspersed between the songs are spoken interludes from a theatre professional. The Sondheim Strings by Candlelight concert featured commentary by Emily Whittaker, a music director and conductor who worked with Sondheim during his life. She shared context and fun facts about the shows the songs came from, stories of her interactions with Sondheim, and even special themes and sounds to keep an ear out for throughout the performance.

These interludes were not only catnip for theatre fans but a great way to get any Sondheim newcomers in the audience more familiar with what they were hearing. And then, of course, you just get to sit back, relax, and enjoy the music.

Get Sondheim Tribute: Strings by Candlelight tickets now.

Get Rodgers & Hammerstein Tribute: Strings by Candlelight tickets now.

Photo credit: Strings by Candlelight. (Top image courtesy of TodayTix; in-article images by Rebecca J. Michelson)