Famous People I've Sat by at a Concert

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I totally agree salymap - a great storyteller with plenty of interest to say

Seconded.

[Flosshilde]

I was stood behind Sean Rafferty in the queue at the cafe at the Sage this morning.

Not sure I should mention that on these boards though!

OG

I once said hello to him at Skara Brae.

[Lordgeous]

As a friend of George Malcolm I sat next to him many times at concerts, my task being to wake him up when he started snoring! I was taking a lift backstage at the RFH once when klemperer was pushed in beside me in his wheelchair.

[salymap]

Slightly off topic but as it's Christmas must tell this one again. Mention of those RFH lifts reminded me.

When I attended Sargent rehearsals in the 40s/50s I made a good friend - a girl just my age whose mother lived near Malcolm Sargent and close to the RAH. He promised my friend two tickets for a concert at the RFH and we were to pick them up on on the night. We couldn't find them at the ticket office so asked someone and he ushered us into the lift to the artists' room. On the way he remarked 'Sir M didn't say anything about tickets when he arrived with the Royal Party. We were trapped, duly ushered into the room which was full of Spanish dignitaries and Don Juan, I believe. We slowly made our way to the door, my friend approached Sir M who had FORGOTTEN his promise and the concert was a sell-out. looking back, we did nothing wrong but felt about an inch high as we escaped to freedom. Never trust a musician to remember anything

[Tony Halstead]

One of my friends came to hear a concert by the ECO that I was playing in, in maybe 1980/ 1981, at the QEH.
The programme included the premiere of a work by Robin Holloway.
During the perfomance of the Holloway piece, the man sitting next to my friend became very agitated. He kept putting his head in his hands and was muttering " Oh God, oh sh*t, for Christ's sake", and other less mentionable expletives.
At the end of the Holloway premiere, the ECO's conductor beckoned to the audience so that the composer could acknowledge the (considerable) applause.
The swearing. blaspheming man made his way to the stage, shook the conductor's hand and bowed to the audience.

[Nick Armstrong]

Great stories, saly and waldo!!

[pastoralguy]

One of my friends came to hear a concert by the ECO that I was playing in, in maybe 1980/ 1981, at the QEH.
The programme included the premiere of a work by Robin Holloway.
During the perfomance of the Holloway piece, the man sitting next to my friend became very agitated. He kept putting his head in his hands and was muttering " Oh God, oh sh*t, for Christ's sake", and other less mentionable expletives.
At the end of the Holloway premiere, the ECO's conductor beckoned to the audience so that the composer could acknowledge the (considerable) applause.
The swearing. blaspheming man made his way to the stage, shook the conductor's hand and bowed to the audience.

[Ockeghem's Razor]

It wasn't exactly a concert (although the music was certainly of concert standard) but I once sat next to Norman St John Stevas at High Mass at the Brompton Oratory. Rather disappointingly he wasn't wearing a tie: poor show, that man.

[richardfinegold]

I was attending a Concert at Orchestra Hall here in Chicago. Kurt Masur was leading the NY Phil on tour.
At intermission I was standing next to the door leading to the Private Boxes. Daniel Barenboim, then the Principal Conductor here, came bursting out, in a hurry. He plowed right into me, fell backwards, scrambled to his feet, gave me a shocked look, And went running off. My brush with greatness.

[Zucchini]

The most expensive concert I've ever attended! My wife sat next to Mirella Freni at an ROH recital by Pavarotti. She signed our programme and asked my wife if she would like it signed by LP whilst she went backstage. Pavarotti obliged with "To XXX Thank you for recognising this lovely girl from my home town. Luciano P".

But there's a But. My wife adored Mirella's Rolex Cellini watch and her birthday was only 10 days away. So that added well over £1,000 to the price of the tickets. And that was years ago.

[french frank]

But there's a But. My wife adored Mirella's Rolex Cellini watch and her birthday was only 10 days away. So that added well over £1,000 to the price of the tickets. And that was years ago.

[Though I do have a Gucci T-shirt - my cousin brought it back from Hong Kong for me. And a Rolex for herself]

[richardfinegold]

The most expensive concert I've ever attended! My wife sat next to Mirella Freni at an ROH recital by Pavarotti. She signed our programme and asked my wife if she would like it signed by LP whilst she went backstage. Pavarotti obliged with "To XXX Thank you for recognising this lovely girl from my home town. Luciano P".

But there's a But. My wife adored Mirella's Rolex Cellini watch and her birthday was only 10 days away. So that added well over £1,000 to the price of the tickets. And that was years ago.

Couldn't you find a cheap knockoff?

[Petrushka]

I was attending a Concert at Orchestra Hall here in Chicago. Kurt Masur was leading the NY Phil on tour.
At intermission I was standing next to the door leading to the Private Boxes. Daniel Barenboim, then the Principal Conductor here, came bursting out, in a hurry. He plowed right into me, fell backwards, scrambled to his feet, gave me a shocked look, And went running off. My brush with greatness.

Great story.

[Flosshilde]

I was attending a Concert at Orchestra Hall here in Chicago. Kurt Masur was leading the NY Phil on tour.
At intermission I was standing next to the door leading to the Private Boxes. Daniel Barenboim, then the Principal Conductor here, came bursting out, in a hurry. He plowed right into me, fell backwards, scrambled to his feet, gave me a shocked look, And went running off. My brush with greatness.

Desperate for the bar? Or the loo (bathroom in USA speak)?

[David-G]

An aunt of mine, a lady of forceful character, held regular “musical soirees” in which pianists, often with an Israeli connection, would play on her Steinway grand to a drawing-room-full of friends, family and guests. On one occasion the invited pianist was Daniel Barenboim. Some time later she met him, and he asked her how the piano was. “The piano”, she replied, “is fine – but you are not asking how I am?”