Posted by HeWhoBlowsThruBrass on October 25, 2003 at 13:06:30:
Yesterday, we took one of the "Masterworks" concerts on the road and played in a very nice new hall at a large university in a college town in an adjacent state about 1-1/2 hours away (Adams Short Ride / Elgar Cello Concerto / Symphony Fantastique / Rakoczy March - encore).
Many of the students who were there may have been attending their first symphony orchestra concert ever, as well as (probably) some of the faculty members and town's folk. During the performance of a cello concerto by a well-known guest artist, there was some clapping between movements. After the first movement, the conductor and soloist ignored the applause, and after the second movement the soloist actually held up his hand to stiffle the applause!
I think this is crap. Many acts of operas are no longer than many symphonies/concerti, and welcomed applause occurs every 6-10 minutes (sometimes during transitional music). A movement of a symphony/concerto is clearly the end of an artistic act that "stands alone". There should be nothing deemed wrong with non-disruptive applause, and if it occurs it should be graciously acknowledged. Making appreciate audiences (particularly newcomers to the art form) feel ignorant or stupid when they express appreciation at seemingly very appropriate places does nothing to promote the cause.