Reprinted from Notebook, the program book of the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Copyright © 1998 by The Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Used by permission.
Daniel Barenboim once defined recordings as documents of live performance. The real joy of the concert experience, he said – for both audiences and musicians alike – is that for a particular moment, in a particular place, a fresh, new life is given to ideas which would otherwise exist only as dots and dashes on paper. The excitement for everyone in the concert hall is in the discovery of a unique musical encounter which can never be repeated exactly the same way.
In this shared experience, musicians are aware of the audience as the audience is of the artists on stage. And, for a great performance to be a truly great concert, you, as a member of the audience, play an important part.
Just as the notes are vital to the music, so are the silences between them. As an audience member, you have both the right and the responsibility of maintaining silence. Every cough, every rattle, every sound that emanates from those listening echoes like a mistake in the music. They are serious distractions to the musicians as well as to those who have come to hear the performance. Loud throat clearing, coughing, paper crackling, loose keys and pocket change, rattling jewelry and program page shuffling [to say nothing of whispering or conversation] all pierce that crucial silence, which is as necessary to the success of the work as the tones of the instruments. Silence between movements is just as important to the success of the performance.
Don’t be afraid to let your neighbor know that your right to silence is part of the experience you paid for, or to discreetly let an usher know if you are being disturbed. For the sake of both the musicians and your fellow concertgoers, remember that silence is your part of the score, and strive to play it well.
And, while there is a time for silence, so there is also a time for noise!
The musicians gauge how well they have played by your response, and knowing that you appreciated their playing is an inspiration for them to play even better the next time.
Musicians live for the applause of an appreciative audience; it’s part of their reward for their work. And the more clapping, hooting, and hollering, the better! Seeing people stream out of the hall before the last bars are finished makes them feel as you would if your dinner guests left swallowing dessert, without saying thank you.
If you have enjoyed a concert, let the musicians know and encourage your neighbors to wait until the applause dies down before running out the door. Your support and loyalty are appreciated!