CLASSICAL MUSIC IN COMMERCIALS

The trick to getting ad music right is to pull the audience into the narrative without distracting them from the point, and one of the best ways to do this is with classical music.

What kind of commercials use classical music? Every kind! Whether an advertiser is promoting a brand new company or spreading the word an all-new instant coffee, there’s sure to be a classical piece out there to complement it. (When we say out there, what we really mean is in our production music catalogue of over 200,000 tracks!). Register now for the full experience.

To inspire you to use a classical music track in your next ad, we’ve rounded up the best examples of classical music in advertising, including some of our own.

The Best Examples of Classical Music in Advertising

British Airways

The ‘Flower Duet’ from Lakmé by Léo Delibes

We don't knowabout you, but when we think of British Airways, one classic composition instantly plays in our head – we refer, of course, to the ‘Flower Duet’. As the music plays over the 1989 ad, viewers get a bird’s eye view of people from around the globe uniting to create a striking image in the airline’s flagship colours.

Find similar music to set your ad apart in our Opera & Oratorio Classical Collection.

Alton Towers

‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’ from Peer Gynt by Edvard Greig

Many are familiar with the Alton Towers’ theme music, but not everyone knows this magical piece dates back to 1875. Peer Gynt was originally created by Norwegian Romantic-era composer Edvard Grieg for Henrik Ibsen’s eponymous play. In case you’re wondering, it’s loosely based on a fairytale of a lonely hunter who embarks on a series of adventures. We wonder if Disney will ever adapt it?

Discover music inspired by the 19th century in our Romantic Period Playlist.

Old Spice

‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff

Many, many years ago (in 1978), American grooming brand Old Spice added a splash of drama to its aftershave ad by putting German composer Carl Orff in the mix. The iconic music keeps the viewer in a state of anxiety as huge waves threaten to engulf an embattled surfer. Considering we still remember it today, there’s no denying this is a very effective piece of advertising.

Explore similar pieces in our Dramatic Symphonic Classical Collection.

Lloyds TSB

‘Eliza’s Aria’ from Wild Swans by Elena Kats-Chernin

The Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin originally created the piece for Meryl Tankard’s ballet Wild Swans, based on the fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen, but we still find it hard to believe it wasn’t created especially for the emotional tale of the advert’s animated couple.

Check out our Opera Playlist to browse and sample beautifully opulent opera production music.

Sony Bravia

‘Overture’ from La Gazza Ladra (aka The Thieving Magpie) by Giachino Rossini

The Japanese brand teamed up with Phoenix Fireworks in an epic production that saw huge vats of colourful paint blasted into the sky around a residential tower block in Glasgow. It was set to the tune of Rossini’s wildly exuberant ‘Overture’ from his 1817 opera La Gazza Ladra. The result? An ad that looks and sounds spectacular.

Listen to a selection of songs inspired by Rossini’s epoch in our Classical Period Playlist.

Music for Your TV Commercial

If you’re in the process of putting together your own television ad, we’d like to draw your attention to our catalogue of production music compositions.

Here at Audio Network, we have music of every genre to suit the needs of creatives worldwide – including electronic music, indie music, pop music and hip hop music. To find the right track for you, visit our website and find your playlist or collection of choice and sample the tracks – there are 200,000+, so you’re bound to find something that tickles your fancy.