Profpointy
Legendary Member
I agree the clapping after solos seems odd to me, and what's that's strange nodding thing that (serious) jazz listeners' do? That said, on my one ballet visit, I found clapping after each "solo" bit of dancing a bit odd too and broke up the flow somewhat. Mind you, it was quite a night, as there was a power cut, and lights were off - the dancers and band carried on - OK they could see a bit, but the players could not possibly have seen their music.
As more of a so-called "classical" music guy myself, it grates on me when people clap between movements - then embarrassed, stop clapping when they realist they've committed an unexpected faux-pas. I did once go to a very strange gig - Also Sprach Zarathustra - perhaps best know for the opening bit used for the beginning of 2001 A Space Odyssey, and for some of us, the theme tune of BBC coverage of the Apollo missions. Some of the audience applauded after the opening bit , amd the conductor graciously acknowledge the applause - the pause continued and more people applauded - but it appeared that was all they were playing - I was told afterwards that my expression was a bit like Andre Previn's in That Sketch. The rest of the concert was excellent, but only the first 10 bars of what I'd gone for !
It's all ritual though, as when I took my girlfriend to her first classical concert, was very bemused by "tuning up" where the orchestra are all individually practicing their tricky bits, perhaps not even for that gig. She was expecting it to be far more serious and subdued.
