Fed up with people making noise at classical shows


Last night I heard Vladimir Feltsman perform Chopin's Ballades at the Perelman Theater in Philadelphia's Kimmel Center. My excitement was building as my favorite part of the first Ballade approached. Immediately before the key was struck, someone sneezed. It was at that moment that I asked myself, "What the hell am I doing here? I have this at home, recorded by three different pianists." Throughout the performance were the sounds of coughing, sneezing moving in one's seat, dropping of programs, and talking.

I know this is the chance you take when attending live classical concerts and I LOVE hearing live music, but frankly I'm sick of it. I'm sick of paying money for traveling and the ticket itself just to be annoyed for two hours. Last Tuesday night a ringing cell phone disrupted a performance by the New York Philharmonic to the point where the conductor actually stopped the orchestra half way through Mahler's Ninth and addressed the moron who wouldn't shut it off.

Once, DURING A PERFORMANCE, someone got out of their seat, walked up to the stage and began "conducting the orchestra" with an imaginary baton.

As I said, I love attending live music, but when things like this happen, I'm ready to just stay home and save myself the aggravation.

Sorry, just had to vent.
devilboy
You are 14 years older than me and my suggesting coughs and a accidental sneeze shouldnt ruin a night is far from suggesting everyone is free to do what they want. I noted several times examples of phones and conversations are unacceptable but thats been lost here. Once again its posts directed at me that invite continued participation.
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Mission accomplished; sat through the entire concert without a single extraneous emission on my part.

The lady next to me started a coughing fit but excused herself and got up and left. It was a minor distraction and did not diminish my evening.

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Interesting comments from conductor Mark Wigglesworth on audience noise.

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/blog/shaping-the-invisible/disengagement-rings