Hi Alex,
you wrote:
> As I understand it this is how 'classical' music
> used to be enjoyed before commerce took over and invented the modern
> concert hall with its superstar conductor etc. Sitting face forward
> completely still ignoring all those around you soaking in the perfect
> sound performed by high geniuses is a entirely modern idea AFAIK.
this is somewhat inaccurate, or at least misleading. I think it was Lizst
who turned the piano around so that the audience could see his hands. And it
was Wagner who turned off the lights and told the audience to shush so that
they could concentrate on the subtleties of the music. Both of which have
less to do with modernism or commerce and more to do with romanticism and
19th c. individualism, imho (although I'm sure strong arguments can be made
on both sides).
Marcel
Received on Tue Feb 26 2008 - 11:08:35 GMT