RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

Rustling candy wrappers, coughing during quiet moments, and clapping between movements are well-known bugaboos of classical music audiences. Have these (oft-neglected) standards of etiquette always been the norm? “In Beethoven’s day it was different. One clapped routinely at the end of every movement of a symphony. According to one eye-witness, the audience at the first performance of the Ninth Symphony were so impressed by the Scherzo that they applauded while the music was still playing.” – The Guardian