Comments on: concert coughs http://skowroneck.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/concert-coughs/ harpsichord and early piano Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:42:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: skowroneck http://skowroneck.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/concert-coughs/#comment-25 skowroneck Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:50:39 +0000 http://skowroneck.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/concert-coughs/#comment-25 During a Sunday afternoon concert in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, with Murray Perahia playing Beethoven's fourth piano concerto shortly before it was recorded, and Haitink conducting Shostakovitch's 13th Symphony (also shortly before it was recorded), I witnessed a family row in the back ranks, which did not subside until Perahia had played through his concerto. All sorts of things happen. During a Sunday afternoon concert in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, with Murray Perahia playing Beethoven’s fourth piano concerto shortly before it was recorded, and Haitink conducting Shostakovitch’s 13th Symphony (also shortly before it was recorded), I witnessed a family row in the back ranks, which did not subside until Perahia had played through his concerto. All sorts of things happen.

]]> By: Thomas D http://skowroneck.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/concert-coughs/#comment-22 Thomas D Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:19:45 +0000 http://skowroneck.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/concert-coughs/#comment-22 The apex of annoying noises is ladies who occasionally want to examine the program notes, for which purpose their spectacles must be extracted from their bag, which must be first be (slowly) unzipped. For extra points, the bag should be zipped during the short time the spectacles are worn, then (slowly) unzipped again for replacement thereof. Is it not worrying how much of the concert-going public aren't that much interested in most of the music? The apex of annoying noises is ladies who occasionally want to examine the program notes, for which purpose their spectacles must be extracted from their bag, which must be first be (slowly) unzipped. For extra points, the bag should be zipped during the short time the spectacles are worn, then (slowly) unzipped again for replacement thereof.

Is it not worrying how much of the concert-going public aren’t that much interested in most of the music?

]]> By: James McCarty http://skowroneck.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/concert-coughs/#comment-18 James McCarty Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:30:20 +0000 http://skowroneck.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/concert-coughs/#comment-18 Another supremely annoying cough-associated behavior is the Unwrapping of the Cough Lozenge. The fortunate player and audience will be graced with a lozenge in a waxed paper wrapper that makes no noise. More commonly, however, the lozenge will be wrapped in cellophane. At this juncture, the cougher must decide whether to unwrap the lozenge rapidly or slowly. Almost invariably, the decision is the wrong one, and the crinkling of the cellophane ruins the music for what seems like an agonizing eternity. Another supremely annoying cough-associated behavior is the Unwrapping of the Cough Lozenge. The fortunate player and audience will be graced with a lozenge in a waxed paper wrapper that makes no noise. More commonly, however, the lozenge will be wrapped in cellophane. At this juncture, the cougher must decide whether to unwrap the lozenge rapidly or slowly. Almost invariably, the decision is the wrong one, and the crinkling of the cellophane ruins the music for what seems like an agonizing eternity.

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