Interesting post today by Mahan Esfahani (whom I know via Facebook), in relation to this concert yesterday:
Long story short, and basically it will all be out in a couple of Köln papers and the blogosphere, but the Steve Reich "Piano Phase" at yesterday's concert at the Philharmonie so offended the sensibilities of some of the more conservative members of the audience that it was interrupted by catcalls (it should not escape your attention that these testosterone-filled old dudes catcalling also do this to women) and hissing, and eventual yelling between factions to the point of the hall being in pandemonium for about a quarter of an hour.
There was also yelling that I should "speak German." Those of you who've heard me in Dresden, Berlin, Vienna, Cologne itself, Hamburg, Munich, and Leipzig know that I SPEAK GERMAN TO GERMAN AUDIENCES. But I just don't feel confident enough about it always to explain arcane matters. So I spoke English, and people decided to lose their s*** over this. I'm sorry, but that's certifiably nuts.
I should say that this was one of the most thrilling experiences of recent life for me. And it's exactly what I want for this instrument, to get rid of this idea that music is just an objective lovely thing after morning coffee.
I'm pretty sure this is the first time a harpsichord concert has occasioned riot-like conditions. Awesome.
Long story short, and basically it will all be out in a couple of Köln papers and the blogosphere, but the Steve Reich "Piano Phase" at yesterday's concert at the Philharmonie so offended the sensibilities of some of the more conservative members of the audience that it was interrupted by catcalls (it should not escape your attention that these testosterone-filled old dudes catcalling also do this to women) and hissing, and eventual yelling between factions to the point of the hall being in pandemonium for about a quarter of an hour.
There was also yelling that I should "speak German." Those of you who've heard me in Dresden, Berlin, Vienna, Cologne itself, Hamburg, Munich, and Leipzig know that I SPEAK GERMAN TO GERMAN AUDIENCES. But I just don't feel confident enough about it always to explain arcane matters. So I spoke English, and people decided to lose their s*** over this. I'm sorry, but that's certifiably nuts.
I should say that this was one of the most thrilling experiences of recent life for me. And it's exactly what I want for this instrument, to get rid of this idea that music is just an objective lovely thing after morning coffee.
I'm pretty sure this is the first time a harpsichord concert has occasioned riot-like conditions. Awesome.
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