NY1's Stephanie Simon introduces us to conductor David Bernard's "Inside Out" concert series.

I've been covering NYC's arts and culture scene for 20 years. In that time, so much has changed. Museums have become more visitor-friendly. Theater has become more interactive and diverse. Music streams on small devices into all kinds of headphones. But the classical music concert has mostly stayed the same.

When I attended conductor David Bernard's "Inside Out" concert with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, I saw and heard something new. The music was Mahler, music I've heard many times. But at an "Inside Out" concert, the audience sits among the orchestra members. Whether you’re familiar with the music or not, it is a completely new experience. From the percussion section to the violins, each note is clear as its own sound and as part of the masterpiece. You listening and seeing the action.

David was inspired to create an immersive classical musical event after attending some immersive theater performances in NYC, including Sleep No More. I find that particularly amusing because I occasionally do see people sleeping at traditional classical music concerts. Would that ever happen at this kind of concert? I really don’t think so.

As David says, "These days, there are people who would prefer to, say, listen to music via Spotify and not necessarily come to the live classical concerts, and I was trying to think of what is it about these live experiences that need to pivot. Hearing it in three dimensions when you're sitting in the orchestra and this is happening around you, they hear a level of detail in the music that they were never able to hear before. It's also what you see and it's what you feel."

Audience members told me it was delightful to hear the music from the inside out, and see it, too. Every movement big and small right in front of your eyes. It was exciting! Some were classical music fans. Some were there just to have a new experience. Non-classical music fans sitting through 90 minutes of Mahler and enjoying it. That's pretty amazing.

David and the musicians told me the best vantage point has always been that of the musicians. That doesn't seem fair! Well, now, everyone can see and hear the excitement, energy and strenuous work of the orchestra members.

Sure, these days, we can stream music everywhere we go. I love to walk around with my earbuds in playing my favorite tunes. But this may very well be the ultimate surround sound experience. And perhaps it's the future of classical music.