Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner How do you Feel about Applause?

There's a large difference between expressionless/distant/condescending and simply not putting on a big fake smile.

It doesn't have to be fake I think on the 2nd bow and on, it is perfectly acceptable to smile.

After finishing the Appassionata, or the Chopin 2nd?

Why not? It's fine to create the needed atmosphere after the piece is finished, but nothing wrong with being a little bit graceful after a while. Like I said, after the 2nd bow it's fine. I don't see the big dilemma here.

(And I thought at first you were talking about op. 111, not Appassionata?)

That's what I do if I'm in a good mood. Otherwise I give them the finger.

I've only performed op.57 a couple times so far, in very informal settings. But when I finish that last movement, and I turn to the listeners, I'm feeling something like: "Oh my god! Did you feel it-- that intensity, drama, tragedy? What was that thing we all just experienced?" And sometimes the right way to acknowledge a shared experience is with a smile. Just to say: "Yes, I felt it too."

-Jason

That's what I do when I'm in a good mood. Otherwise I have the backstage assistants bring barrels of mud onto the stage and throw them into the audience.

You're all too nice. I usually set the piano on fire before filling the hall with profanities. After that I head to the bar.

To moderators: Maybe 'sticky' this thread to make it a reference on how to relate to audiences?

One time in studio class a student finished playing something, and the teacher asked "What is your biggest enemy when you perform?" (in this case, the answer was "speed", as he sort of rushed through everything because of nerves). He answered "the audience".. hahaha!! Will never forget that.

And of course if it's a concerto, the answer is the orchestra.

PDQ Bach did a good job calling it "Concerto for Piano vs. Orchestra."

Karl Haas, in his great old radio show "Adventures in Good Music", once made the point that while the "con" in "concerto" is often thought to mean "together" (as in "concerted effort"), it can just as easily mean "against" (as in "contra" and "conflict").

-J

Are you the great (and late) Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli?

Please ben, he was hardly the only reference who did something like that.

I love applause, thank you! Thank you.

(I also love the smell of grease paint.)

Thank you.

Thank you.













thank you.

THANK YOU! ENOUGH ALREADY!!!

Please be seated.