I know this is a general issue, but I want to talk about it in regard to the Gil Shaham concert last week. "It " is clapping inbetween movements..... I was absolutely gutted to experience yet again , yet again, this curse of the Proms in the Park people. For me, we were absolutely at the pinnacle of sublimity, scream if I am wrong or having some mental episode, during the first and the second movements of this concerto, and some complete plonkers have to snuff it out with their wanton applause.  Then, to boot, Gil Shaham has to bow to them like it was fine to clap and didn`t destroy  the performance. I know I harp on, but is there anyone as incensed as me out there?  Do we get this at piano recitals, BTW?

Best,sam

You might be amused to read an earlier discussion on Musbook about applause between movements:

http://www.musbook.com/forum/Talking-Shop/General-Discussion/When-is-the-Right-Time-for-Applause--5567-1.html

In general, I am with you on the subject - clapping between movements, especially in something as sublime as the Barber, is sacriligeous, and I agree that it can interrupt the flow of the performance. I also wonder if it distracts the musicians.... And yes, it does happen at piano recitals!

However, there is no historical precedent for not applauding between movements: before the twentieth century, it was quite normal and in the early days of the Proms, it as perfectly acceptable (as was smoking in the hall!). And I imagine audiences in Mozart's day were not particularly well behaved during concerts!

These days, when there is applause during movements, those of us who know better shake our heads and tut, and think "ignorant oafs!". But very occasionally, when it is clearly absolutely spontaneous, it can be quite moving: an immediate signal of the audience's appreciation for a fine performance. Equally, a few moments silence at the end of a particularly arresting performance is one of the highest compliments we can pay to the musicians.