To Clap or Not to Clap?

The short answer is:

“We hope you will if you love it—and, we hope you love it!”

There seems to be a raging confusion among concert performers, fans and critics alike…when can I clap? Why was I just “shushed?” However, centuries ago, applauding after movements, or even during pieces, was expected. Composers such as Beethoven ended first movements with potent cadences designed to incite applause. When enjoying an opera, applause after a strong aria is standard. And in jazz, listeners routinely applaud during the music after a player ends a great riff.

So, what if today one song in particular moves you to shout for joy or sigh in rapture? Your response and your feedback inform us of your preferences and even helps shape the music that is yet to come!

Emmanuel Ax put it well on his blog, “We should welcome applause whenever it comes... And yet, we seem to have set up some very arcane rules as to when it is actually OK to applaud.”

Our conductor, Gwendolyn Gassler, will routinely turn to you, our audience, to discuss groups of songs that we feel mean something special together. You may find that you hear something more in the silence between these songs, and, in cases such as this, many people choose not to clap. We invite you to try this, and promise to call these opportunities out clearly during the performance!

We applaud those who applaud from their hearts, and humbly and gratefully hope your heart will respond to our music today. Your appreciation and enduring support mean so much to us!