Founder Johan Idema developed Wolfgang based on a vivid childhood memory: “When I was a kid, my uncle used to take me to classical concerts. He would whisper in my ear the whole time, things like ‘watch the trumpet’. He was giving me cues or tips for what to listen for, and that made quite an impact. That whispering meant I was able to really follow the music better with his real-time instruction.”

Ten years ago, Johan transformed that memory into Wolfgang: the concert app that offers real-time commentary.

“Tingling sleigh bells set Mahler’s Fourth Symphony – his sunniest, most accessible symphony – in motion. The strings introduce a classical, carefree melody. One that could have come from Mozart or Haydn.”

Idema hopes the app can make a meaningful contribution to the future of symphonic music. "One really has to ask why people would choose to listen to a symphonic concert. For me, the answer is because the music touches you or inspires you. Wolfgang you to really understand and experience what you're listening to.” And ultimately, that’s what matters most: helping the audience connect with the music and deepening their experience.

Since smartphones aren’t always welcome in concert halls, overcoming that resistance was key. That’s why Wolfgang displays its text in grey on a black background, and operates completely silently. “We’ve put in so much effort to research and design this app in such a way that if you are not using it and someone next to you is, you won’t be disturbed. Actually, we found out in the research what disturbs people more is someone sitting next to you and going through the paper program brochure."

Interestingly, Wolfgang appeals to both first-time visitors and seasoned concertgoers. Johan prefers to distinguish between two types of listeners: the emotional listener, who wants nothing to come between them and the music, and the rational listener, who seeks context and explanation – and wants to understand what’s happening in the music, and why.

read the full interview