Klarinet Archive - Posting 000895.txt from 1998/12

From: "Jim O'Briant" <jobriant@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Standing ovations
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 02:22:11 -0500

someone wrote:

> What bothers me presently is the general expectation of a standing
> ovation after a mediocre performance; I've been known to be one of the
> few still sitting at the end of a performance. By definition most
> performances are average; once in a great while there is a performance
> that really deserves the standing "O". It cheapens the whole idea of a
> standing ovation if it happens too often.

Back in my college days in the late '60's, I was classical music reviewer for my
university newspaper. After one such occasion -- a rousing standing ovation
following a competent but not spectacular concert by a visiting orchestra, I
commented that our audiences seemed willing to grant the honor of a standing
ovation following any concert where the musicians showed up an performed as
scheduled. Much to my surprise, this short comment at the end of a long review
created quite a stir among local concertgoers, and within the music department in
particular, and in the end, it seemed that nearly everyone agreed with me -- but
they all stood up merely because someone else stood up first. For the remainder
of my time on campus, standing ovations became much more rare. But I assume
they're standing for anyone and everyone again by now.....

Jim O'Briant
Bayside Music Press
Gilroy, CA USA

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