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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
devilboy OP
1,175 posts
 
Good point Minorl. Now also think about the effect not on the audience, but the musicians. Surely one would think that a musician can play more passionately when he/she doesn't hear distractions from the audience, so the quality of the music being played would be more emotional and enjoyable.

So, think about this: Maybe someone sitting on the opposite end of the theater wouldn't hear a cough or sneeze, but the musician did. So the music suffers, which in turn affects him anyway.
ml8764ag's avatar
ml8764ag
483 posts
 
Never had anything against classical...until now. 

tostadosunidos's avatar
tostadosunidos
1,197 posts
 
Would you care to 'splain yourself?
devilboy OP
1,175 posts
 
@ml8: no need to hate classical simply because, (and I'm assuming here), you don't attend live classical concerts. It's different from other genres of music......and I like MANY different types.  My original complaint was, if you can't be silent at a concert, stay the hell home and don't ruin it for the others who paid.
tostadosunidos's avatar
tostadosunidos
1,197 posts
 
"My original complaint was, if you can't be silent at a concert, stay the hell home and don't ruin it for the others who paid."

I feel your pain, and I am with you on this.
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