Prom 15: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (1) - 30.07.19

[Tony Halstead]

There was a bit of coughing in the gods and one mobile phone going off. But much more disturbing in the Beethoven was the number of latecomers admitted between each of the movements; not all made surreptitious entrances either. Is that one drawback of an early start? To make it worse, one couple decided to occupy two free seats other than their own. Then the booked occupiers (one quite disabled) appeared.

Has anybody commented on the orchestra turning its back on the audience during the final appluase? A tribute to Sir Henry (I hope!) or a political statement?

A very young orchestra and, judging by the personnel list, very few non-German players.

Hmmm... if they were going to pay tribute to Sir Henry, surely the time for that would be tonight..? So, it can only mean that they were indeed making a political statement, and to be fair, who could possibly blame them?

[Bryn]

Hmmm... if they were going to pay tribute to Sir Henry, surely the time for that would be tonight..? So, it can only mean that they were indeed making a political statement, and to be fair, who could possibly blame them?

I go with Pastoralguy's suggestion. Far more likely, I think.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I sincerely hope it was for the Orchestra acknowledging the applause of the audience sitting behind. I've certainly seen this happening in the Usher Hall where the (incredibly uncomfortable!) choir seat are often very full.

Yes - it happens in Leeds Town Hall, too, when orchestras bow to the people in the choir stalls.

[Once Was 4]

I know all about that - I've been there and done it numerous times (no T shirt to prove it though).

In fact we sometimes had to ask people to move if they were sitting right up against horn bells (the Halle used to have that problem in St George's, Bradford until Bradford Council deemed it unsafe to have audience there).

Last night I could not see, so was not aware, of audience behind the orchestra but of course that would explain it.

[Darkbloom]

There was a bit of coughing in the gods and one mobile phone going off. But much more disturbing in the Beethoven was the number of latecomers admitted between each of the movements; not all made surreptitious entrances either. Is that one drawback of an early start? To make it worse, one couple decided to occupy two free seats other than their own. Then the booked occupiers (one quite disabled) appeared.

Has anybody commented on the orchestra turning its back on the audience during the final appluase? A tribute to Sir Henry (I hope!) or a political statement?

A very young orchestra and, judging by the personnel list, very few non-German players.

I have no doubt they were acknowledging the applause of the audience in the choir seats. Some conductors do it, some don't, but I recall Y N-S doing it when he was with the Rotterdam PO last year.

[LMcD]

It would be nice to think that somebody 'discovered' Shostakovitch, or classical music more generally, on hearing what I thought was a magnificent account of the 5th symphony.

[alywin]

I have no doubt they were acknowledging the applause of the audience in the choir seats. Some conductors do it, some don't, but I recall Y N-S doing it when he was with the Rotterdam PO last year.

Absolutely. They did it last night too - there was no question of it being anything else.

[jonfan]

It would be nice to think that somebody 'discovered' Shostakovitch, or classical music more generally, on hearing what I thought was a magnificent account of the 5th symphony.