Jeers and anger after clapping spoils performance of world-class orchestra in Hong Kong
Jeers, sneers follow thoughtless noise, but German orchestra charms nonetheless
43rd HK Arts Festival Opening Concert
Christian Thielemann and the Staatskapelle Dresden
Cultural Centre Concert Hall
The jeering and finger-pointing familiar to followers of the city's political scene infiltrated its musical shrine on Friday - and this time the chief executive was not on the receiving end. Instead, the invective was aimed at culprits in the audience who spoiled a brilliant musical performance by clapping prematurely.
The moment of shame came as the Staatskapelle Dresden, one of the world's best orchestras, opened the 43rd Hong Kong Arts Festival with a performance of Richard Strauss' . The work, for 23 strings, was written during the second world war as a lament.
But just as the 20-minute masterpiece faded out into intense C minor chords, an audience member began to clap. That evidently annoyed conductor Christian Thielemann, on his Hong Kong debut.
As the maestro's baton and players' bows were still up in the air on the end note, another audience member broke the silence with thoughtless applause. The Germans looked displeased as they shuffled off stage.
"Get out, you get out," one audience member yelled at the culprit, about nine metres away.
