They’re at it again, the local critics, that is. Willard Spiegelman of D magazine (not to mention SMU, “The New York Times,” etc.) is the latest to raise the issue of the audience “O”…the sometimes ill-timed, other times automatic standing ovations on the part of Dallas/Fort Worth audiences. One of the points made is that this behavior somehow validates the price paid for the ticket (which seems a bit screwy to me) or it’s a reflection of American society’s penchant for grade inflation (“Everybody gets an A!”).
So, what do YOU think?
I get as irked as the next classical music critic when someone starts the applause before the final notes have faded – but on the other hand – the incredible standing, stomping, thumping, roaring ovation at the end of the world premiere performance of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s “Moby-Dick” last April (with ripped up paper fluttering from the upper tiers) remains a moment nearly as indelible as the opera itself.
So, is over-enthusiasm a real problem in the local arts scene…or a perceived problem?
Feel free to discuss here. (Image courtesy of freewebs.com)
Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR