Who on earth takes a one year old child to a classical concert...?

[Bax-of-Delights]

A few years ago there was a performance of Mahler 2 at the RFH with Ashkenazy conducting. Mrs B-o-D and I were taking a pre-concert snifter and airing on the upper balcony looking over the Thames when there was a bit of a kerfuffle in the lobby behind us. An unfortunate woman was rolling on the floor and howling. She was being attended to by her fellow concert-goer (presumably a partner/husband). As you do, we made a wide circle around the thrashing lady and entered the auditorium.

The orchestra march in, leader and then conductor. Baton raise and from the very back row of the upper circle comes the cry "They're trying to murder me!" It was our thrashing lady now esconced in a seat and her partner was sitting beside her. Perhaps Ashkenazy didn't hear but most of the rest of the auditorium did. By this time a steward is standing at the end of the row (fortunately the lady was on the end seat) and there was some very swift and decisive action with ejection feet first through the door.

I can't remember a thing about the performance but this memory has stuck with me every since.
I wanted to know who thought it would be a good thing to allow an obviously seriously disturbed person - already sporting dysfunctional behaviour outside the auditorium - inside?

And then I thought that perhaps I was stuck in the middle of a Hitchcock film.

[MarkG]

Unless its a classical concert specifically FOR babies of course. I think Wigmore Hall, for one, have done this sort of thing.

For Crying Out Loud! - concerts for new parents and their babies

http://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/learning/events

[gingerjon]

Unless its a classical concert specifically FOR babies of course. I think Wigmore Hall, for one, have done this sort of thing.

For Crying Out Loud! - concerts for new parents and their babies


http://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/learning/events

Well done Wigmore Hall, these look splendid.

I shall have to see if I can drag Mrs Ginger and the little gingers along to these.