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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
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Perhaps its a function of where you live. In the last year I’ve been to over
30 concerts at the 1100 seat Ordway Concert Hall in St Paul which may well have the best acoustics in the USA ,and is the home of the wonderful St. Paul Chamber Orchestra .

I have yet to hear a single cough, program rustle etc in all that time.
Several foreign conductors and groups have said on stage the Twin Cities are
their favorite venue in the US because the audiences are so attentive
and polite . And they were not saying it just to be saying it .
I heard the term " Minnesota Nice " before I moved here and its not just a catchy phrase.
devilboy OP
1,176 posts
 
Hello again Schube.  You have a good point.
Maybe because this is Philly and here on the east coast, we're a little less polite than other areas of the country. (actually, a lot less).
You either love it or hate it. 
devilboy OP
1,176 posts
 
Btw, I find it very hard to believe that in 30 concerts you've heard no noise from the audience.  I couldn't go 30 minutes without hearing something. 
devilboy OP
1,176 posts
 
No coughs in 30 concerts?
BS.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Well Lucifer, I am totally immersed in the music and usually sit in the first row so it is possible I missed a cough or two , still never heard one. . 
The only places I've even been that had audiences as good as the Twin Cities are Budapest , Tokyo and Finland in general  where Sibelius's Birthday is a National Holiday !

Anyone who comes from a place where their boo Santa Claus is suspect 
in any event .
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