29 May 2015 at 11.51am | 35 Comments
It's a convention that most opera and classical ballet-goers will have experienced - the climax of a well-known aria or pas de deux giving way to tumultuous applause, sometimes punctuated with rousing 'Bravo!'s or 'Brava!'s.
For some audience members, it's a way of showing appreciation for a stellar performance; for others, it's a frustrating interruption of the drama and destroys the illusion of theatre.
According to Alex Ross — in opera at least — this tension over the appropriateness of applause is a relatively new phenomenon in the four-hundred-year history of the art form. Prior to the 20th century, applause between movements was widely held to be a sign of knowledge of an audience, rather than an intrusion. Indeed, Mozart was so pleased with the volume generated after one of his performances that he wrote an ecstatic letter to his father about celebrating with some post-performance prayers and a great big ice cream! Things appear to have changed with Wagner, whose Gesamtkunstwerks (total works of art) saw audiences experience them in reverent silence. While the composer himself was disappointed with the new convention, the 'Bayreuth hush' took hold, and for some became the ideal of a 'sophisticated' audience. Ever since, a tension has been evident between those who love to clap, and those that don't.
With some of opera's most famous arias being performed on stage at Covent Garden this summer in La traviata, La bohème and Don Giovanni — and mid-performance applause likely to break out — we asked our Twitter following what they think of the convention:
@RoyalOperaHouse Applause can snap me out of the mood that the performers worked so hard to create. A "no" from me
— JR (@MrsBradCooper) May 28, 2015
@RoyalOperaHouse I think mid-show applause e.g. after arias is great - recognises live opera's intrinsic (and brilliant) status as spectacle — John D Walker (@JDWalker1986) May 28, 2015
@RoyalOperaHouse Instant feedback is fine. Just stop the siily 'Bravo' calls by those who want to be noticed.
— Peter (@oysterman55) May 28, 2015
@RoyalOperaHouse The russian applauding style is maybe too disruptive. But after some pieces it's worth it - you kind of connect with others
— Lorenzo Cori (@LorenzoCori) May 28, 2015
@RoyalOperaHouse I don't mind the applause (it's well-deserved) but taking a break to bow detracts from the flow of the performance.
— Lizzie (@ElizabethRGFS) May 28, 2015
@RoyalOperaHouse Considering how long opera&ballet applauses last at the end, it irks me mid-show, especially if the performer bows/curtsies
— Tony (@TonyTimes2) May 28, 2015
@RoyalOperaHouse I am all for mid show applause. It drives the artists and helps them reach greater heights! I used to love it on stage.
— Abhi Curry (@el_ingeniero) May 28, 2015
@RoyalOperaHouse @TheRoyalOpera As bad as those who insist on clapping between movements at orchestral performances. Ugh!
— Lisa (@Wattybird) May 28, 2015
@joshtmanley @RoyalOperaHouse when I am singing I always try to do something to stifle applause but if they insist.... hey, why not.
— David Twizell (@Twiz007) May 28, 2015
What do you think of mid-performance applause?
Is it an opportunity to show artists your appreciation, or a frustrating interruption?
Il trovatore runs 1 December 2016-8 February 2017.
Tickets go on sale to Friends of Covent Garden on 21 September 2016. General booking opens on 18 October 2016.
29 May 2015 at 11.51am
This article has been categorised Off stage and tagged applause, by John Copley, by Kasper Holten, by Richard Eyre, clapping, convention, don giovanni, La bohème, La traviata, Production
This article has 35 comments
Don't mind applause at the ballet generally and with some productions it would be strange not to applaud in certain sections (Nutcracker 2nd half). However really don't like applauding of principals just for coming on stage. They haven't done anything yet so why applaud? Think it might be the Russian influence at work again...
For those detractors out there... A very successful (retired) soprano once told me that most performers actually like the applause because it's a way to connect and get feedback and energy from the audience. I've never looked back and applaud (not for ages and not unless I really appreciate, of course)
I think applause at the end of the aria is a great way for giving immediate feedback for a performance (I think the audience would've exploded had they not applauded JDF in the middle of Fille du Regiment). I agree with the above about applauding the entrance of principals. My biggest bug-bear though is the Xfactor style applause in the middle of a song for hitting high notes/sometimes just getting louder. Thank goodness I haven't experienced this in the concert hall/opera house (yet!)
I totally agree with your response. The only thing is, I am sorry I haven't had the pleasure of hearing JDF live.
Most composers give you the clue as to when to applaud, with a big finish,, and if the piece is through- composed he indicates that he prefers you to wait until the end of the scene or act. Of course there are some exceptions (VISI D'ARTE and UN BEL DI) which still stop a performance despite the composer's intentions.The divertissements in NUTCRACKER beg for applause. If you listen to the music, and wait for it to finish. .you will not go wrong.
Sometimes you just cannot help yourself... If we ourselves excelled at something would we not expect praise from others? I don't see why applause during a performance should be any different
Personally I love it, especially in opera but I sometimes worry for the artist if they have given a wonderful performance of an aria and it doesn't happen. Audiences can vary so much from one night to another.
Applause is essential in between dance pieces; I can't think of a better way to break the awkward silence and reward the dancers. Some ballets even directly invite the audience to applause - when the dancers stop, face the audience, raise their hands, and smile.
You can really see how dancers become more confident following ecstatic applause, especially when they first come out on stage. Any sounds made during the dance piece are inappropriate though, as you can see how they make dancers lose their concentration. They also drown the music out, which is definitely a disruption.
Whistles and call outs like "bravo" etc are really good for curtain calls at the end of the performance, when the dancers actually seem to be encouraging it via their body language and gestures. I think the audience are generally aware of opera house protocol, and thus far I haven't see things turn into a tennis match!
I find applause very distracting with the ballet, it often jerks you out of the mood. I was brought up to believe that is was an impolite thing to do, except at the end of the performance, and I still do believe that is the case.
Re Ballet It is difficult to generalise as often the performer is seeking recognition by facing the audience, raising arms or bowing. I disagree with applauding entrances. However after recognised feats I think applause is warranted; though some people seem to think every jump or turn merits applause. Audiences are becoming more vocal during performances with shouts of Bravo/Brava and talking to their neighbours which is VERY annoying.
Performers feed off the energy of applause, particularly in opera --- so I think it is a fine thing to do! The only thing that can be a bit awkward is the breaking of character to take a bow; a throwback to earlier tradition, perhaps, but not one I am a fan of! Each to their own, though, and I'm not sure it is right to judge anybody for applauding/not applauding. We should all be allowed our own reactions to the art as I believe that is the point, somewhat.
This isn't the answer to this question but what I hate is an immediate applause at the end of a very moving opera or ballet without a moment to come back to life. Was it Tamara Rojo who said she would love to have a few moments to just be Juliet before coming back to reality? It happens even before the last bars are played and it jerks me out of the emotion of the performance. Applauding during a performance is, as many have said, a sign that the audience are enjoying it and appreciate it.
Maybe it's a question of how much, if any at all, and showing respect for others in the audience.
Watching videos of performances at the Bolshoi, for example, it's hard not to sense that some audience members treat a ballet performance as if it were a circus act.
It would be sad if not-applauding in mid-performance were to be regarded as a lack of appreciation rather than the sign of respect it actually is.
There's no harm in saving the appreciation for dancers and singers until the end of the performance, and the curtain calls. Then it's fun for everyone.
A,huge question! Applause in a long, continuous opera like Tristan a definite No. Applause,after a specific aria which has been brilliantly sung understandable and possibly welcome to the artist. Ballet always seems to invite applause in classical ballets like Swan Lake, and probably artists welcome it after a particularly well danced solo. And I've a sneaking suspicion that it acts as a breather! But my pet hates are those who applaud just before the end of either opera or ballet,those silly whooping noises that seem to be the fashion now, and especially standing ovations which seem to be necessary for any artist with a 'name'.
Good question
For me mostly I like it but sometimes I don't. Maybe it's a mood thing.
I would think performers enjoy hearing applause, especially the ballet. Opera maybe there are moments when clapping is inappropriate. I mostly attend ballets and the applause after a scintillating number has never seemed out of place.
Horses for courses surely. Applause can seem premature even after the music has finished (R and J, Manon). But sit in silence through the Black Swan pas-de-deux? Impossible - and not what composer, choreographer or dancer expect - or want.
Difficult to stop yourself applauding if you loved the aria and were impressed by the singing. It's like a release of emotional tension, and surely must be appreciated by the singers.
I dislike bowing in the interval- agree with others that this breaks the spell.
Gernerally, I find applause mid-act to be a distraction at best and an annoyance at worst. I manage to temper my enthusiasm for a performance until the end of the Act but I accept there are occasions where the composer writes a pause into the music to allow for applause and suppose that is OK but for goodness sake don't do it whilst the music is still playing. That really does show contempt for the performers who are still playing and the composer.
I also dislike the increasing modern trend for booing the villain at the curtain call. You are showing appreciation for a performer not passing judgement on the character they have portrayed
Mid peformance applause is completely appropriate. It shows that the audience respect the skill and dedication required to do the certain piece. I believe it doesn't ruin the magic of the theatre, just the opposite, it brings it too life!
Many years ago at the ROH at the conclusion of a particular aria the soprano, whose name I forget and wouldn't tell you if I did remember, received a huge and resounding BOOOOOO, from a large contingent of the audience. So if applause is welcome ( I hate it by the way ) then you must expect the other.
Katia Ricciarelli in 1980's Lucia, Kiri te Kanawa in 1984's Manon Lescaut??? Aw c'mon, tell us!!!
The worst is the "new syndrome" of audiences "clapping along" in the middle of a solo (say the Black Swan 32 fouettes or the coda of a grand pas-de-deux such as Don Quixote). This completely distracts the artist as the sort of person who would do this wouldn't have any idea of the exact Rythms anyway. Nothing short of a mediaeval punishment for these individuals (see the Game of Thrones for examples) suffices under these circumstances....
Applause is fine, even "bravos" and "bravas"; bows or curtsies disrupt the drama for me.
Honestly? Opera and Ballet are constantly criticised for being too elitist and patronising and some of these comments only serve to support that view. How sad. Opera and Ballet are and should be accessible to EVERYONE and there should be no rules as to what to wear or when to applaud!!!! I cannot believe an artist on the stage would wish the audience to suppress spontaneous shows of appreciation. The relationship between audience and performer should go both ways. It's called giving back and it is wonderful.
If there is one thing that annoys me about opera and ballet, an art form which is so extraordinary and wonderful and long lasting, its the tendency of some audience members to be patronising. So I think they should all get over it. We want newcomers in the audience, we want people who don't know when exactly an aria ends, we want people who have never seen 32 fouettes before, we want them to gasp in wonder and show their joy. We want them to come back, support, bring their friends, support the art form - we want it!!!
I guess the minimal effort and concentration needed to be on stage is huge (and still more).
Me, as part of an audience shocked by an amazing performance sometimes feel driven to jump and shout and clap on happiness.
But I think the artists (& the rest of the audience) deserves enough esteem to keep ourselves calm. Maybe just blurring our sight by tears of emotion.
I think applause mid scene or act should be reserved for exceptional performances e.g. Queen of the night, Don Carlo duet etc. otherwise I find it irritating. We lived in the U.S. For a while and found this quite common. This kind of frequent applause peppered the fantastic performance of La Boheme (the best of many I have ever seen/heard) on May 30th at ROH. What annoyed me even more was that there should have been at least 3 curtain calls at the end and everyone on or stamping their feet!! (Not just us!) I therefore conclude that constant applause mid performance is an attribute of those who do not really appreciate Opera. Ditto people who applaud e.g. Daniel Barenboim on the piano before the last sound has died completely and I mean completely!!
I do not object to applause at 'natural' points in the opera. However, nothing emphasises the disconnect between audience and performance than when applause breaks out during a live performance screened at the cinema!
As a long-time patron of the theater arts I believe that mid-performance applause is simply a spontaneous reaction to total joy of what is seen in the moment. Rather than take away form the moment for me, I am exhilarated that people are interested and responsive enough to appreciate a great moment. As for the performers, watch the joy on their faces as the realize the audience has loved them and what they do. To carry it on too long is when it becomes disruptive. I have not seen that often...but when it is, it is because something past to point of magical has just occurred.
Great opera singers are also actors and actors respond to and feed off audiences' reactions. Laughter (e.g. in Rosenkavalier, with surtitles) is one reaction which I have seen totally transforming an already outstanding singing performance. Applause is another. Operas are not museum pieces or concert recitals. They are live performances. Clap on. Shout 'Brava' if you will. Laugh. Every little helps!
I really don't like it. It would possibly be ok once the last note of the singer and orchestra have died done at the end of an aria but not before. I've been to performances where the applause starts many bars before the end and with accompanying shouts. The Wagner rule works well and there are no complaints from the performers. So only provide appreciation when the music has stopped.
This is an interesting debate, especially as Theatre Etiquete is much discussed these days. It is common place in theatre to applaud a good performance either sung or danced during a performance. My issue is applause mid performance because a star turn has entered the stage, also the use of camera's used to take pictures or record parts of a show, its distracting to other audience members and i've seen people get very offended when politely asked to stop. Buying a ticket doesn't give you to right to photograph what is copyrite material.
I think it depends on the general gravitas of performance and the culture of the country you might be in. If you know what you are seeing and who might be conducting and therefore the type of audience attending then you will have a rough idea of what to do and what not to do. My rule is if in doubt never applause and if you must 7 claps of the hand is enough. As far as ruining the suspense of theatre well all art is a lie so I wouldn't worry about that too much.
No, no no! fundamentally clapping mid Opera breaks the drama and turns the act that should be enjoyed as a whole, into an endless secession of individual performances. There is plenty of opportunity to show ones apprecation at the aproprate breaks in the drama and at its conclusion.
Just saw rigoletto and the applause is a real intrusion. Most opera fans seem to be fine with it going from this thread. Actors don’t need applause to know they’ve hooked an audience emotionally