More from Alex Ross…Let the Applause Be Heard
Posted: 4/30/10 -- 1:11 pm
by Sara Billmann
In March, Alex Ross gave a lecture at the Royal Philharmonic Society in London about the seemingly age-old tradition of not applauding during classical music (as a tradition, it actually dates back less than 100 years, and was controversial even when it first started appearing with some regularity). London’s Guardian excerpted his talk (which can also be found in its lengthier version here).
What do you think of the practice? Or of Ross’s other observations about what he refers to as “the other tics of concert life”?
Let the debate begin!
Sara Billmann has served as UMS's Director of Marketing & Communications since 1996. A former UMS intern, she celebrates her 20th UMS season this year.
about 4 days ago 
about 7 days ago 
Allowing audiences to more freely interact with music that moves them might remove some of the "stuffed shirt" reputation associated with classical music. I'm not sure about applauding for individual solos as in a jazz performance, but applauding in between sections of a larger work would be no more impolite than applauding after a magnificent opera aria.
Jon Busch
1
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