about us

Parlando is a chamber orchestra based in New York City that brings intimate and accessible orchestral experiences to wider audiences.

We all like familiar things, and we’re more likely to go into a concert hall if there is a familiar piece being performed. When you open a program and see a composer and piece you’ve never heard of, it’s not as easy to engage with as a piece of music you already know and love.

But we also like new things. They allow us to expand our horizons and stretch our imaginations. How do we balance our love of familiarity with the thrill of the new?

Parlando’s goal is to make all classical music, no matter the composer, era, or style, feel familiar.

Founded by Ian Niederhoffer in 2019, Parlando provides the musical and historical context to prepare every audience member for the music they are about to hear. Through short introductions to each piece, Parlando bridges the gap between audience and performer, creating an intimate, accessible orchestral experience.

Every Parlando program has a theme and contains a blend of new, underrepresented, and standard works. By connecting each piece through a shared theme, the concert becomes a story, and the audience is able to carry the experience from one piece to the next. Parlando strives to leave every audience member knowing more about classical music than when they walked in.

The focus of a Parlando concert is always on the music itself. The introductions are in service of the ensuing performance, preparing the audience to enjoy the music as much as possible.