Hello again,
A while ago, I wrote about the “toast” phenomenon that takes place at classical music concerts.
Some audiences are “like toast: when the music ends, they pop up.” (credit Mark Mobley)
There’s a new audience reaction. It’s the “WHOOO” and the shrill-shriek that happens about one second after the music ends.
Now…take a step back in history. During Beethoven and Mozart’s day, audiences were full participants at concerts. They clapped in between movements, during movements, and they would shriek and howl when they heard something they liked.
They would also shriek and howl when they heard something they didn’t like.
I’ve also read that audiences of the time would stand up and demand that the orchestra repeat a movement of the music they just heard and thoroughly enjoyed.
We know this from the writings of music critics and music fans from that era who documented their experiences in the concert hall.
That being said, I would like to voice my displeasure with the “Whooo-Shriek” tradition that is now present in modern times.
Another step back, in present times there are some classical music advocates who love this phenomenon. “Let’s make classical music like Rock shows,” adding that “this a good way to bring in younger audiences.”
Something that’s never been proven to consistently be accurate.
Whatever. I completely accept any criticism that comes my way that says I’m part of the old, curmudgeonly, and dusty “blue hairs” that go to concerts.
Well, no. In actuality, my ears just don’t like high pitched shrieks that sound out nearby.
Like the autopilot standing ovations, Whoos and Shrieks are now also automatic. Last night at a concert, many people my age were riding the Whooo-Shriek train.
So clearly, that train has left the station, and I understand. And let’s be honest, it’s not as irritating as when the person nearby makes and takes phone calls right next to you on speaker phone.
But just as audiences cry out “Brava” or “Bravo” at the end of an orchestral performance or opera aria — and I can be a part of that crowd when I feel it — their are times when instead of shouting “Bravo,” I often want to shout “BOOO”…but to the audience.
