As the arts industry begins to emerge from the pandemic, organisations of every shape and size are grappling with a brave new world, where audience behaviour has changed – perhaps forever – and large subscriber bases can’t be relied on anymore. But as the American pianist and music writer Charles Rosen remarked many years ago, the death of classical music is perhaps its oldest continuing tradition. Yes, we need new approaches, new audiences, new venues – but the same was true in Beethoven’s time.

Noone embodies this ongoing tension better than Australian violist Tahlia Petrosian, who is both a permanent member of the world’s oldest orchestra, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, but is also a globe-trotting, keynote-speaking promoter of KLASSIK underground. Established by Petrosian in Leipzig many years ago, KLASSIK underground fuses classical music with 21st-century urban nightlife, bringing musicians and audience together in an intimate club atmosphere to present exciting and innovative concert events not found in traditional classical music venues.

For the first time, Australian audiences will get to experience KLASSIK underground at Adelaide’s Illuminate festival. Over three nights, the Dom Polski Centre will be the centrepiece for this up close and personal concert series, with serious, exciting music (Bach,...