The Los Angeles Times“At a time when symphony orchestras nationwide are trolling for audience magnets — the type of new material that can lure members of generations X & Y along with older subscribers — Bates just might have that bait.”
Knight Arts“…one of the most exhilarating and energetic fusions of live electronica with classical music anywhere.”
Composer/DJ Mason Bates’ Mercury Soul engages a new generation of music-lovers through performances combining classical music and electronica in alternative venues with immersive stagecraft and elaborate production. Mercury Soul premiered at San Francisco’s famed Mezzanine club in 2008, bringing over 1,400 people to experience a unique combination of imaginative stagecraft, substantive programming, and engaging electro-acoustic interludes linking DJ’d and classical sets. This successful launch was followed by the San Francisco Symphony inviting Mercury Soul to curate several After Hours events at Davies Hall, performances in San Francisco’s bustling club circuit, at New World Symphony’s Frank Gehry-designed hall, in the Atrium of the Kennedy Center, and at a warehouse party with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, demonstrating that Mercury Soul adapts to the venue and the ensemble. Mason Bates also offers specialized educational opportunities through Mercury Soul EDUCATION, which exposes high-school students to the beauty of classical music through educational outreach and underage-friendly events at local clubs.