When members of Europe's middle class wanted to attend a concert during the classical era, they went to a

Members of Europe's middle class went to a public concert. The classical era was the period when the middle class was socially invigorated and was slowly starting to gain respect of the higher classes. In earlier periods, public concerts were almost non-existent. Music was written for courts or churches, and performances were held there (except for opera). Only in the classical era performances became open for the wider audience - basically, anyone who could afford to pay for the tickets.