The storied marble atrium of Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables will be transformed into a flickering sanctuary of music, memory, and magic. Part of the globally celebrated Candlelight Concert Series, “From Bach to The Beatles” begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, promising a multisensory journey that spans three centuries of musical genius—lit entirely by candlelight.
Presented by Fever and featuring the Listeso String Quartet, the hour-long program brings together two towering influences in Western music: the intricate harmonies and mathematical elegance of Johann Sebastian Bach, and the melodic inventiveness and emotional candor of The Beatles. It’s an unexpected pairing that, under the intimate ambiance of dimmed chandeliers and hundreds of candles, feels both surprising and inevitable.
Setting that glows
But on Thursday evening, the hotel’s historic rotunda—typically bustling with conferences or cocktail receptions—will become the backdrop for something quieter, deeper, and more meditative.
Guests will enter the softly lit lobby and be guided to their seats, which are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis within pre-selected zones. Over the course of 60 uninterrupted minutes, the ensemble will weave together movements from Bach’s most iconic baroque masterpieces with the unmistakable melodies of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr.
It’s an evening designed not just to be heard but felt—and seen. The candlelight, carefully arranged to avoid overwhelming brightness, pulses in harmony with the strings, giving every bow stroke and finger pluck a glowing counterpart.
Program in two acts
The evening opens with Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, a piece as effervescent as champagne and structurally ingenious. It is followed by his Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major—the prelude of which is perhaps the most recognizable solo cello passage in the world. Also included are Ave Maria (the Gounod version layered atop Bach’s Prelude in C Major) and the vivacious Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, a dual showcase of both technical precision and baroque exuberance.
The second half of the program shifts to a cultural moment no less influential: the British Invasion. But here, The Beatles are rendered not with vocals and guitars, but with violins and cellos—stripped of lyrics, and yet somehow even more poignant. Classics like “Yesterday,” “Hey Jude,” and “Eleanor Rigby” acquire a new emotional hue in this instrumental setting. “Blackbird” is reborn as a miniature fugue; “Come Together” throbs with a newly imagined rhythm; and “Here Comes the Sun” shimmers with gentle optimism.
It’s a testament to both the Beatles’ compositional depth and Bach’s enduring influence that these songs speak so well to one another. Both artists, separated by centuries, were masters of counterpoint, harmony, and accessible complexity.
Intimate yet universal
The Candlelight Concert Series has swept through over 100 cities worldwide, from Paris to Tokyo, offering classical and crossover programs in iconic, often non-traditional venues. In Miami, the concerts have been held in churches, museums, and hotels, gaining a reputation for their emotional resonance and visual beauty.
Thursday’s program is one of the series’ most ambitious pairings. By juxtaposing the order and discipline of Bach with the emotional immediacy of The Beatles, the concert asks audiences to consider how music—regardless of century—can summon memory, reshape space, and unite strangers under a single aesthetic experience.
Tickets, ranging in price by seating zone, are still available online through the official Candlelight Concerts website. Attendees must be 8 years or older, and anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Doors open one hour prior to the concert, with no late entry permitted—a policy that protects the immersive integrity of the experience.
Quiet spectacle
From Bach to The Beatles offers a different kind of thrill: one built on nuance, intimacy, and awe. Whether you’re a baroque purist, a lifelong Beatles fan, or simply in search of something soul-stirring, this evening under the glow of candlelight promises a rare and beautiful alignment.
