But on May 2, 2011, travelers at Copenhagen Central Station in Denmark heard something unusual.
It started with a single musician quietly playing in the middle of the station hall. A few people stopped. Then a flute joined in with the first notes of a melody many of them knew: Maurice Ravel’s famous “Boléro.”
Slowly, more musicians appeared from the crowd. A violin. A cello. A bassoon. An oboe. One by one, they took their places, and the music grew louder and richer.
“Boléro” is the perfect piece for a surprise like this. It repeats the same tune over and over, with the music building little by little until it reaches a huge, thrilling finish. Here, you get to watch that building happen right before your eyes.
The musicians were members of Copenhagen Phil, a professional symphony orchestra, and they were led by conductor Jesper Nordin. The orchestra said it was one of the first professional symphony orchestras ever to stage a flash mob.
Watch the faces of the people in the station as the music grows. Suddenly, nobody seems to be in a hurry anymore.
By the end, a full symphony orchestra fills the station hall.
The video has since been watched millions of times. It is a lovely reminder to slow down now and then and let a little beauty into our busy days.
Would you have missed your train for this? Share it with someone who loves classical music.
