[Trombone-l] Boos

[Gabriel Langfur]

----- Original Message ----
From: Robert Holland <publisher at briarmusic.com>
To: Trb. List <trombone-l at server5.samford.edu>
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 11:05:24 PM
Subject: Re: [Trombone-l] Boos


Funny how everyone interprets booing differently. I've wished for years 
that booing were more commonplace, as poor performance is just as 
commonplace as it's ever been. (Excellent performance is still oddly 
rare, though technically adept performance is widespread.) 

--------------------------------------------

Good point. 

And I'd add that I'd prefer booing to indifference.

A few years ago I played the Rite of Spring with an excellent orchestra, the Naples (FL) Philharmonic. It was a newly formed orchestra in the 80's, and it's got a great young spirit. 

Anyway, from where I was sitting (playing bass trumpet, so I was listening a lot), all 4 performances were amazingly good. Technically superb, fantastic energy, the whole picture. But Naples is a retirement community. They support the orchestra extremely well, but mostly would prefer a Pops concert every week. The applause was tepid at best after each performance. 

Players in the orchestra told me they had done Bruckner 8 a few weeks before - huge Romantic finale, 8 or 9 horns standing at the end - and after one performance it took a ridiculously long time for the applause to start. The poor horn players had to stand uncomfortably while the audience figured out the piece was over. 

what can you do? They already play their hearts out at every concert...

Gabe