Klarinet Archive - Posting 000308.txt from 1999/07

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] APPLAUSE
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 18:44:12 -0400

On Sat, 10 Jul 1999 11:58:58 -0400, agalper@-----.com said:

> APPLAUSE
>
> One musical work that always invites applause at the wrong place is
> Tschaikovsky's Sixth symphony, the Pathetique.
>
> The third movement is a rousing March and ends with such Fanfare that
> it's hard not to applaud.

Yes, it's true.

> The symphony then ends with a very somber slow movement. Fades away.
> Maybe that is why it was named the Pathetique.

I remember being by chance in NY in the early 80's, and attending a
concert given by the NY Philharmonic conducted on that occasion by
Bernard Haitink, in a programme that included the Pathetique.

Many of the audience stood up and applauded after the third movement...

....and then left, regardless of, and indeed interrupting, the
continuing music.

My respect for New Yorkers has been growing since then.

The orchestra too has improved -- has had to improve -- significantly.
But their response to Haitink on this occasion bordered on the
indifferent, which might superficially be thought to justify the
audience reaction; but on consideration, not.

In my humble opinion, the NYPO was really at their best around that time
when conducted by Danny Kaye, who had the genius to persuade them to
rediscover their common humanity for a few hours. (Bernstein did this
too, perhaps. I'm only judging here by the recordings.)

Individually, I'm sure there were many wonderful people in the
orchestra, and in one case I know that to be true: one of my great
friends was the first flute, Julie Baker.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE GMN family artist: www.gmn.com
tel/fax 01865 553339

... Open mouth, insert foot, echo internationally.

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