How Should Live Classical Music Be Presented?

[Petrushka]

Comment has been made on another thread that people find the way live concerts are presented in the concert hall to be off-putting.

I must confess that I don't find it off-putting at all and never have but we live in a different age now and I would doubtless be considered a dinosaur.

So how do fellow boarders, seasoned concert-goers most of us I reckon, think the presentation of classical music in the concert hall can be made a more welcoming experience if, indeed, it can?

[teamsaint]

one thing that I said earlier today was the the presentation of live music is perrenially troublesome. This does apply to other (non classical)live music too.

[french frank]

I don't see why there can't be different ways, depending on the venue so that people know what to expect and go to the places where the presentation suits them. The formal concert halls with the big orchestras would be one thing; smaller ensembles could be a lot less formal. If, eventually, formal concerts died out, so be it. But as long as there are audiences for formal concerts they shouldn't compromise by trying to attract new audiences. One could hope that as people became more familiar with concert-going they would gradually come to appreciate the more restrained atmosphere and the concentration.

[Mary Chambers]

But as long as there are audiences for formal concerts they shouldn't compromise by trying to attract new audiences. One could hope that as people became more familiar with concert-going they would gradually come to appreciate the more restrained atmosphere and the concentration.

Hear hear.

[Petrushka]

one thing that I said earlier today was the the presentation of live music is perrenially troublesome. This does apply to other (non classical)live music too.

In what way is it 'perrenially (sic) troublesome'? I'm genuinely at a loss to understand why this should be the case. What was particularly troublesome about the recent concerts you have attended in the RFH and Barbican? Could concert hall managers learn something from the less formal atmosphere of the Proms?

[Thropplenoggin]

Beware the R3 approach of trying to make Classical Music trendy! This isn't Rock Music, you know! And yet, and yet. One can easily imagine a mosh pit for certain heavier bits of the repetory. Why not, in the right setting?

But I'm with FF. People - young people (I still count myself among them, esp. at concerts ) - seem happy to adapt to a different form of concert attendance.

I've been going to concerts here and in Paris for the past few years. Everyone I've been to has been full or almost full. The audience has been more senior than me, 35, but with enough younger faces to reassure one that this type of concert has a future. What worries me is the same repetory appearing again and again, or repetory disappearing (Mozart ). I like those concert programmes where they show us the links between Bach and the 20th Century, say. And if classical music is to have a future, it needs to find a place for contemporary classical music. Whatever one thinks of the book, The Rest is Noise, the concert series has been an excellent idea. I wonder how many uninitiated young, and old, people have discovered classical music through it.

One thing. Bad behaviour - coughs, shuffling feet, muffled conversation, sweet wrappers, phone use - I've been disturbed by all of these things. Each time it was by the more senior members of the audience.

Oh, and no applause between movements please.

[MrGongGong]

Some people are offended by the presence of other human beings in concerts
which is one reason why we have recorded music and esoteric hifi
contrary to popular opinion the rudest people in concerts aren't always the youngsters

All about context innit ....... I suspect many of those so offended by people breathing during their precious Brahms would be apoplectic at an Italian Opera audience

[richardfinegold]

Comment has been made on another thread that people find the way live concerts are presented in the concert hall to be off-putting.

I must confess that I don't find it off-putting at all and never have but we live in a different age now and I would doubtless be considered a dinosaur.

So how do fellow boarders, seasoned concert-goers most of us I reckon, think the presentation of classical music in the concert hall can be made a more welcoming experience if, indeed, it can?

Great topic.
1) Ticket prices--here in the States there is very little Public Support for the Arts, so ticket Prices for concerts tend to be several times higher than in Europe. This already discourages a lot of people who might be inclined to investigate Classical Music. Lower the prices and interest will increase.
2) Program Notes The typical blurb about a performer tells us what competitions they have won and where they have played a concert in the last 30 years. Who really cares? Have a little interview with the performers where talk about the music, some funny anecdotes, anything that makes them seem like a human being.
3) Pre Concert Talks These work quite well to increase interest in audiences. Put them on line well ahead of the performance so people can hear them.
4) Performers addressing the crowd--this is a sensitive subject, but on the whole I think this is a positive. Again, it humanizes the performers, breaks down a barrier between them and the audience, and draws people in. If the conductor or soloist isn't good at it, have a member of the Orchestra do it.
Encourage brevity and concision and discourage logorrhea.

[jayne lee wilson]

Personally, I've never liked talks given just prior to a performance either on-air or in-hall by a conductor, or brief interview with performer/conductor. Whatever your level of knowledge, they can't tell you much at that point, anyone listening has already decided to be there for that music.... it seems like an unnecessary delay and breaks the spell, the feeling of occasion and atmosphere.

[Beef Oven!]

Comment has been made on another thread that people find the way live concerts are presented in the concert hall to be off-putting.

I must confess that I don't find it off-putting at all and never have but we live in a different age now and I would doubtless be considered a dinosaur.

So how do fellow boarders, seasoned concert-goers most of us I reckon, think the presentation of classical music in the concert hall can be made a more welcoming experience if, indeed, it can?

You're asking the wrong people. You need to ask people who are being put off, not us lot in here - we're part of the problem!!

[Beef Oven!]

Some people are offended by the presence of other human beings in concerts
which is one reason why we have recorded music and esoteric hifi
contrary to popular opinion the rudest people in concerts aren't always the youngsters

All about context innit ....... I suspect many of those so offended by people breathing during their precious Brahms would be apoplectic at an Italian Opera audience

[Petrushka]

Personally, I've never liked talks given just prior to a performance either on-air or in-hall by a conductor, or brief interview with performer/conductor. Whatever your level of knowledge, they can't tell you much at that point, anyone listening has already decided to be there for that music.... it seems like an unnecessary delay and breaks the spell, the feeling of occasion and atmosphere.

I'm 100% with this. Good conductors are not always good verbal communicators and where there is a language problem it can be downright embarrassing. Occasionally, though, it can work. I remember Sir Mark Elder giving a brief talk about the Webern 5 Pieces just prior to performing them - and doing so again after the concert for a repeat outing. It was short but enlightening and made one listen that much keener to the Webern. Somehow, though, I can't imagine Claudio Abbado doing the same thing.

[Beef Oven!]

I'm 100% with this. Good conductors are not always good verbal communicators and where there is a language problem it can be downright embarrassing. Occasionally, though, it can work. I remember Sir Mark Elder giving a brief talk about the Webern 5 Pieces just prior to performing them - and doing so again after the concert for a repeat outing. It was short but enlightening and made one listen that much keener to the Webern. Somehow, though, I can't imagine Claudio Abbado doing the same thing.

Disagree entirely.

Three examples from numerous experiences.

Boulez was wanting to be somewhere else and had a face like smacked-arse during a post concert talk a few years back - but he added so much to the experience and he took the trouble to spend time with us both pre and post concert.

Elliott Carter was about 97 and understandably had stamina issues and his speech was almost inaudible but was utterly enthralling all the same

Jiri Bělohlávek seemed to be undergoing an acute episode of Asperger's, but made our evening all the same

I think that pre/post concert talks must be compulsory!!!

[richardfinegold]

Personally, I've never liked talks given just prior to a performance either on-air or in-hall by a conductor, or brief interview with performer/conductor. Whatever your level of knowledge, they can't tell you much at that point, anyone listening has already decided to be there for that music.... it seems like an unnecessary delay and breaks the spell, the feeling of occasion and atmosphere.

yes, but as Beefy has pointed out, the people posting on this forum are not the problem. I don't care to have to conductor or others blab either, and that is why I listed the parameters under which they should do so. The issue at hand is why others, who do not post on this forum, and do not listen to classical music in general, may find to peak their interest. If the rest of us have to put up with a few seconds of blather from performers in the interests of promoting a policy that might increase the audience for classical music significantly, then I'm all for it, because expanding support for the music we love will ultimately benefit all of us.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Some people seem keen to perceive a problem that isn't there. Just because a situation is outside the comfort zone of some people, it doesn't mean someone else is to blame.
The idea that young people are moronic and unable to adapt is a concept that I find quite offensive. The fact that some older people feed the myth is deeply patronising and only makes matters worse - often much worse.