Comments on: Classical Music Perfomance: The Rules http://www.socialprimer.com/2009/10/classical-music-perfomance-the-rules/ Manners, Conversation, Style & Handling Your Liquor Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:29:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: j gettinger http://www.socialprimer.com/2009/10/classical-music-perfomance-the-rules/#comment-832 j gettinger Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:35:47 +0000 http://www.socialprimer.com/?p=1461#comment-832 Re applause: I agree w/ SP on concerts; however, it is customary to applaud individual arias at certain operas as well particularly spectacular solos or duets at ballet. The exception at opera would be through composed works such as Wagner's, where applause is held until the end of an act. Such works don't have set piece arias, but if in doubt, take your signal from the conductor. At Parsifal, the custom is not to applaud after the transformation scene (a taking of the eucharist w/ the Holy Grail) that ends Act I, but I find the hushing against the violators to be worse than the violation. No one should attempt to hold a paper or plastic bag in one's lap during a perfomance. It will be quite safe under the seat. Finally, at any performance, I think it very rude for members of the audience to leave while the singers, musicians or cast members remain on stage receiving applause. If you weren't thrilled, or even if you are in a hurry to leave, please remain seated until the bow lights go off and the house lights come up. Oh, one more thing. No matter if you know every note, do not hum or sing along: only one person ever got away with that and he was at the podium and his name was Arturo Toscanini! Re applause: I agree w/ SP on concerts; however, it is customary to applaud individual arias at certain operas as well particularly spectacular solos or duets at ballet. The exception at opera would be through composed works such as Wagner’s, where applause is held until the end of an act. Such works don’t have set piece arias, but if in doubt, take your signal from the conductor. At Parsifal, the custom is not to applaud after the transformation scene (a taking of the eucharist w/ the Holy Grail) that ends Act I, but I find the hushing against the violators to be worse than the violation.

No one should attempt to hold a paper or plastic bag in one’s lap during a perfomance. It will be quite safe under the seat.

Finally, at any performance, I think it very rude for members of the audience to leave while the singers, musicians or cast members remain on stage receiving applause. If you weren’t thrilled, or even if you are in a hurry to leave, please remain seated until the bow lights go off and the house lights come up.

Oh, one more thing. No matter if you know every note, do not hum or sing along: only one person ever got away with that and he was at the podium and his name was Arturo Toscanini!

]]> By: Titus http://www.socialprimer.com/2009/10/classical-music-perfomance-the-rules/#comment-808 Titus Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:49:21 +0000 http://www.socialprimer.com/?p=1461#comment-808 Carson's comments are spot-on: applause was far more frequent back when classical music was the popular entertainment of the day. It's even more true still today with opera: applauding at the conclusion of an aria or duet is common, even if patrons today don't tear the house apart like their nineteenth-century predecessors. "leave the hall until you regain composure." -- be careful here, however. The concert hall may have policies against re-entry, so check the program before excusing yourself unless you want to spend the whole movement in the lobby. Carson’s comments are spot-on: applause was far more frequent back when classical music was the popular entertainment of the day. It’s even more true still today with opera: applauding at the conclusion of an aria or duet is common, even if patrons today don’t tear the house apart like their nineteenth-century predecessors.

“leave the hall until you regain composure.” — be careful here, however. The concert hall may have policies against re-entry, so check the program before excusing yourself unless you want to spend the whole movement in the lobby.

]]> By: Carson Chittom http://www.socialprimer.com/2009/10/classical-music-perfomance-the-rules/#comment-806 Carson Chittom Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:53:41 +0000 http://www.socialprimer.com/?p=1461#comment-806 I'm a classically trained musician (violin)and although I've never played professionally (largely, frankly, because I wasn't willing to spend that much time to get that little money), in the past I've played with youth orchestras and university groups. I've also attended more professional and amateur performances than you can shake a stick at. While you're certainly right that the "correct" thing to do is to wait until the end of a piece to applaud, I can't help but feel that vehemently insisting on it is the wrong tack to take, particularly in an age where likely greater than nine-tenths of the populace wouldn't know an allegro from a largo (and given the state of musical education in the United States, it would be unfair to expect them to). I'm much more of a mind with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra (which performs down the street from my office) whose website says (at http://www.msorchestra.com/index.php/faqs#at-the-concert), "The history of applause at orchestra concerts is long and varied. There was a time when audiences were expected to applaud after every movement of a multi-movement work. More recently, applause has been withheld until the entire work is performed. At MSO, our policy is simple - if you want to say thanks, we are happy to hear it at any time. We suggest you follow your heart." I would be surprised if most performers didn't feel similarly; perhaps - probably, even waiting until the end should be the default, but you won't annoy the musicians if you applaud in the middle. Of course, being the only one applauding after every movement is quite gauche as it detracts from the experience for everyone else. But if your fellow concert-goers think you a rube for clapping along with a large group after a particularly moving, er, movement, I say let them. If you're not going to the concert to enjoy the music, why are you there? I’m a classically trained musician (violin)and although I’ve never played professionally (largely, frankly, because I wasn’t willing to spend that much time to get that little money), in the past I’ve played with youth orchestras and university groups. I’ve also attended more professional and amateur performances than you can shake a stick at. While you’re certainly right that the “correct” thing to do is to wait until the end of a piece to applaud, I can’t help but feel that vehemently insisting on it is the wrong tack to take, particularly in an age where likely greater than nine-tenths of the populace wouldn’t know an allegro from a largo (and given the state of musical education in the United States, it would be unfair to expect them to). I’m much more of a mind with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra (which performs down the street from my office) whose website says (at http://www.msorchestra.com/index.php/faqs#at-the-concert), “The history of applause at orchestra concerts is long and varied. There was a time when audiences were expected to applaud after every movement of a multi-movement work. More recently, applause has been withheld until the entire work is performed. At MSO, our policy is simple – if you want to say thanks, we are happy to hear it at any time. We suggest you follow your heart.” I would be surprised if most performers didn’t feel similarly; perhaps – probably, even waiting until the end should be the default, but you won’t annoy the musicians if you applaud in the middle.

Of course, being the only one applauding after every movement is quite gauche as it detracts from the experience for everyone else. But if your fellow concert-goers think you a rube for clapping along with a large group after a particularly moving, er, movement, I say let them. If you’re not going to the concert to enjoy the music, why are you there?

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