Vienna or Prague

[Marye]

I spotted that too, Nicole. Imagine that... a public offical who lied to get elected.

I sent a message to my partner for him to alert an international criminal lawyer of our intention to travel to Budapest ... just in case we are jailed.

We are not there until 8th of October - I will keep my fingers crossed it will be safe by then - if not.. guess I am staying in Vienna or Prague... or travelling to Germany.

[piqaboo]

Marye, sounds like a wunderbar trip.
I hope things clear up in Budapest as I hear it is stunningly lovely.

When you are in the Czech Republic, try to buy a glass nail file. Grandest bestest file I have ever had. I have NO idea where to get one, as I was unsuccessful in finding them myself. Mine was a gift from a friend who spent a week there visiting a family member 'stationed' (non militarily) there.

Skip Germany, stay longer in Prague!

[Marye]

Glass nail file.... I will do that, Piq.... many thanks!

[Marye]

I have returned!

Alas, no nail file, Piq, but I did try.

Got to The Vienna State Opera to see The Magic Flute, the Rudolfonium in Prague to hear a Liszt piano concerto and to the Academy of Music in Budapest to hear Liszt's Faust Symphony. All were just glorious! What a world of difference to attend classical concerts in Europe. There the prices to attend these fabulous events are affordable, the audiences are appreciative, the seats filled and no one leaves until the last clap is heard: the latter being unlike audiences in North America who leave as soon as the last note is heard so they can get to their cars first. It was the first time I have ever seen an ovation where the pianist returned to play another piece and the conductor signed autographs.

Remarkable. I love Europe.

[Shapley]

Welcome Back!

[Marye]

Thank you Shap... It was just fabulous. All three cities. And the weather was 22 C ...errr... 70 F . Glorious.

[Catmando]

Mary,

Welcome back! I'm very happy you had a wonderful trip in Europe.

I do disagree with you a little about the North American classical concert patrons.

At least here in Wpg, most people stay 'till the end and stand up and applaud the conductor, concertmaster, and musicians until they all come back and take another bow.

[Marye]

Good on Winnipeg! Here in Toronto a number do get up and leave but in Europe not one person leaves early. Maybe "better audiences in Europe" isn't the right term perhaps more sophisticated.

[Catmando]

I'm sure that in general, the European crowd is more sophisticated and knowledgeable about appropriate concert etiquette, instead of the "Beat the Traffic!" North American mentality.

Just know Mary that I am one of the first people who stands up and applauds.

[barfle]

Just know Mary that I am one of the first people who stands up and applauds.

Hopefully NOT between movements!! The horror. The horror.

[Marye]

Excellent Ray!

[Catmando]

Just know Mary that I am one of the first people who stands up and applauds.

Hopefully NOT between movements!! The horror. The horror.

For some reason this season, the crowd has been applauding between the 1st and 2nd movement of a symphony.

But at least it's very brief.

Usually the Symphony Director will indicate prior to the start of the performance to hold the applause until the very end. But he hasn't been doing that this year. Not that it matters, we should know. Tsk! Tsk!

[Marye]

Oooh... bad form...

[jamiebk]

Just know Mary that I am one of the first people who stands up and applauds.

Hopefully NOT between movements!! The horror. The horror.

For some reason this season, the crowd has been applauding between the 1st and 2nd movement of a symphony.

But at least it's very brief.

Usually the Symphony Director will indicate prior to the start of the performance to hold the applause until the very end. But he hasn't been doing that this year. Not that it matters, we should know. Tsk! Tsk!

That's always an akward moment... a few people start to applaud (when you know better) and then you start to wonder...hummm...are we supposed to be applauding here or not? Usually, I stick by my own convictions and do not clap, but there are a lot of sympathetic applauders out there who chime in. Then, the orchestra (and conductor) usually have to decide whether to acknowledge it, or not.

I was at a performance by Paul Galbraith (classical guitarist sometimes heard here) and he specifically asked people to hold applause between movements (Bach). Did they? Same deal...fractured applause followed by sympathetic, half hearted clapping. I am sure he has dealt with it before, but I could not help feeling that it broke his concentration. I also think that it tells the performer that he is perhaps dealing with an unknowledgeable audience.

The worst I ever encountered was during a radio performance of one of the Brittish orchestras (not sure which one). At the beginning or the performance, the conductor wanted to do something in the memory of the London subway bombing victims....it was a very fresh event at the time. He selected just one of Elgar's Enigma variations...Nimrod...very somber, classic Brittish and a wonderful, fitting tribute, filled with sadness but hope and resolve for the future. The conductor SPECIFICALLY asked for silence after the conclusion of the piece to reflect on the victims and tragedy. What happened....loud applause! It was only a recorded performance, but I was embarrassed for every person in the concert hall.

[Shapley]

A lot of people aren't familiar with the piece. If the pause between the movements is a long one, some will begin to applaud thinking the piece is ended, or thinking they are doing the right thing by breaking an awkward silence. You'll sometimes see people looking around wondering why no one is applauding. I think this is why some performers play pieces through with little or no pause between movements, to avoid the interruption.

I read somewhere that it was customary during the 18th and early 19th century to applaud between movements. I don't know when the custom changed.

I live in redneck country here, we whoop and holler during solos. "You get 'em, girl! Play that cello! D**n, that's one mean fiddle!"

V/R
Shapley

[Marye]

At the Magic Flute in Vienna the older gentleman in front of me was from Italy and sat transfixed at the performance. At the end of an aria or movement he was the first to jump in with enthusiastic applause and gratitude. His timing was impeccable as he knew this opera very well and I thought, even when I know the opera I hang back just a bit just in case I am wrong. This same gentleman wildly clapped for one of the soloists in the orchestra (we had 2nd row seats so I was able to see the orchestra) and that musician, after each solo, looked to this older man for confirmation that he did well. I thought it was touching.

[jamiebk]

This same gentleman wildly clapped for one of the soloists in the orchestra (we had 2nd row seats so I was able to see the orchestra) and that musician, after each solo, looked to this older man for confirmation that he did well. I thought it was touching.

I wonder if they were related?

[Shapley]

Perhaps the soloists instructor/mentor?

[Marye]

I didn't think so, Jamie, as this older gentleman was brought to the opera by his son and his son's family. Had this been a relative in the pit I would thought that was even more lovely. It made me smile anyway.

[barfle]

When I had season tickets to the Pacific Symphony, the announcer would request that we hold our applause between movements.

Of course, whenever Zarathustra is played, there are two bars of rest right after a big crescendo, and many people tend to applaud there. I remember the announcer telling us that the piece ends very softly, and there were still a few who didn't get it.

Which is sooooo different from ballet and opera, ain't it?