Edward Piercy

To Applaud or Not to Applaud

Sunday, February 26, 2012 5:42:23 PM

Was reading a bit yesterday on Wikipedia about the premier performance
of Richard Wagner's opera Parsifal at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus in 1882.
Evidently some confusion arose at the performance as to when to applaud
and when not to applaud:

"At Bayreuth performances audiences do not applaud at the end of the
first act. This tradition is the result of a misunderstanding arising
from Wagner's desire at the premiere to maintain the serious mood of the
opera. After much applause following the first and second acts, Wagner
spoke to the audience and said that the cast would take no curtain calls
until the end of the performance. This confused the audience, who
remained silent at the end of the opera until Wagner addressed them
again, saying that he did not mean that they could not applaud. After
the performance Wagner complained "Now I don't know. Did the audience
like it or not?" At following performances some believed that Wagner
had wanted no applause until the very end, and there was silence after
the first two acts. Eventually it became a Bayreuth tradition that no
applause would be heard after the first act, however this was certainly
not Wagner's idea. In fact during [one of] the first Bayreuth performances
Wagner himself cried "Bravo!" as the Flower-maidens made their exit in the
Second Act, only to be hissed by other members of the audience. At some
theatres other than Bayreuth, applause and curtain-calls is normal
practice after every act; other major theatres, including the Metropolitan
Opera in New York, follow the Bayreuth custom."

It would be my view that there should be no applause whatsoever during
Parsifal, even at the end. And if this did not make the performers happy,
then it would be the job of the music director to placate their egos.
There is a solemness to Parsifal, a feeling of sacredness. And I can no
more imagine an audience applauding at the end of it than I can the
members of a church congregation applauding the priest or minister at
the end of a service. To not applaud might not have been Wagner's
intention. But I think it is fitting.

Many opera houses today have a large digital screen above the stage that
is used to give translations of the libretto as an opera is sung. I suppose
it would be no trouble to program it to read "Applause" when the time
came for that type of thing. Or for that matter, during a comic opera the
screen could, where appropriate, read "Laugh."

On second thought, forget all that. I don't know what I could have been
thinking. Too much Gatorade on top of my Gurnemanz, perhaps.

Heart to HeartRaymond J. Piercy (1938-2012)

Comments

Mad Scientist (عادل)qlue # Sunday, February 26, 2012 6:02:04 PM

It's strange how some customs begin!

Mad Scientist (عادل)qlue # Sunday, February 26, 2012 6:07:45 PM

Is it just me or does Robert Wagner look a lot like Richard Wagner?

.
http://static.thehollywoodgossip.com/images/gallery/robert-wagner-picture_369x513.jpg -

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Sunday, February 26, 2012 6:17:46 PM

Yeah, he kinda does look like him. Maybe Richard Wagner should play Richard Wagner in a movie version of Richard Wagner's life. They could include a lot of great music by Richard Wagner. And perhaps Richard Wagner will get an Oscar for it.

Darkogdare # Monday, February 27, 2012 4:33:08 PM

I think that for someone who knows about classical music, that sign is not necessary. For the rest: clap your hands when they tell you

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Monday, February 27, 2012 5:34:39 PM

@ Darko.

Or you could skip the knowledge part and the being told to applaud part and just clap whenever the hell you feel like it.

Darkogdare # Monday, February 27, 2012 6:12:45 PM

Or whenever I see others do that

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Monday, February 27, 2012 7:20:36 PM

Maybe it might become this mass frenzy type thing...

Richard Keelingmusickna # Tuesday, February 28, 2012 3:15:12 PM

I agree with you about the solemnity and seriousness of "Parsifal" but after a respectful silence of a few seconds after the final notes have died away, I think a burst of thunderous applause would be most appropriate. Unless, of course, it was a truly dreadful performance.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Tuesday, February 28, 2012 4:22:14 PM

Originally posted by musickna:

after a respectful silence of a few seconds after the final notes have died away,

That might be acceptable. Maybe after a full 30 seconds or so? Good idea.

Richard Keelingmusickna # Tuesday, February 28, 2012 4:37:05 PM

Originally posted by edwardpiercy:

That might be acceptable. Maybe after a full 30 seconds or so? Good idea.

Good idea.

Stardancer # Wednesday, February 29, 2012 6:01:25 AM

Originally posted by edwardpiercy:

Or you could skip the knowledge part and the being told to applaud part and just clap whenever the hell you feel like it.

Always.

:applause::applause::applause:

Tom RondelloFrlmnk # Wednesday, February 29, 2012 1:28:28 PM

Q: wadda ya do at a Who concert?

A: hit yaself inna head wit a hammer, den go ansir da door.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Wednesday, February 29, 2012 11:17:33 PM

Originally posted by Stardancer:

Always.:applause::applause::applause:

You just a wild and crazy girl!

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Wednesday, February 29, 2012 11:18:20 PM

@ Tom.

Stardancer # Thursday, March 1, 2012 12:31:17 AM

Shhhhhh. Don't tell anybody.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Thursday, March 1, 2012 12:37:53 AM

Ah I miss these little encounters of ours...

Stardancer # Thursday, March 1, 2012 11:38:59 PM

L2D2 # Wednesday, March 7, 2012 1:29:50 AM

As I've never been to a symphony orchestra performance nor an opera, I guess I'd just have to follow the crowd, and, knowing me, if I particularly liked something in said performance, I'd probably applaud as soon as I heard or saw it.

Ed, churches, except for the catholic and derivatives, aren't nearly as formal as they were most of my life. Now, when the choir or a soloist performs, we applaud them, and besides resounding amens, if the preacher says something we really agree with, we applaud that, also. Times have changed, young 'un

Stardancer # Wednesday, March 7, 2012 5:25:35 AM

Originally posted by L2D2:

Now, when the choir or a soloist performs, we applaud them, and besides resounding amens, if the preacher says something we really agree with, we applaud that, also.

Not in my church meetings. Very quiet and reverent. And we're not a Catholic derivative.

I really like it, too. It feels peaceful.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Wednesday, March 7, 2012 5:30:15 PM

Originally posted by L2D2:

Ed, churches, except for the catholic and derivatives, aren't nearly as formal as they were most of my life. Now, when the choir or a soloist performs, we applaud them, and besides resounding amens, i

I've seen that in the 'black' churches. And I suppose it happens in others as well. In fact that type of thing didn't even occur to me -- that's how remote it is from my own experience.

Well, I really don't think we should yell "Amen, brother!" or "That's right!" during the opera. Although some might enjoy it possibly.

Edward Piercyedwardpiercy # Wednesday, March 7, 2012 5:35:26 PM

Originally posted by Stardancer:

I really like it, too. It feels peaceful.

Yes reading Linda's comment made me remember that there are more 'interactive' church experiences. I won't go into the psychology of it, but maybe the shouting reinforces the experience for some. Just as applauding does at an opera?

You know my spiritual beliefs by now I suppose. But still, I think of churches as dedicated spaces that are somehow apart from the world. The Catholic church still holds to Right of Sanctuary -- and as far as I know that is still legally binding here in the U.S.

Don't we get enough of the world outside of those spaces?

Stardancer # Thursday, March 8, 2012 12:44:55 AM

That's pretty much why I go to Church, Edward. I get enough of the world, and then I go to Church to regenerate. I need that peace, that spiritual feeding, to get through the week. Can see no point in it all, otherwise.