Texting at a Symphony? Yes, but Only to Select an Encore

A recent Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra concert of classics like Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, the conductor instructed audience members to take out their phones. The New York Times reports.

In an attempt to appeal to a younger audience, symphony administrators had decided to let the audience choose the encore by text-messaging votes: “A” for Aaron Copland’s “Hoedown,” or “B” for Wagner’s prelude to Act III of “Lohengrin.” (“Hoedown” won by 23 votes.)

The New York Philharmonic has also asked audience members to choose encores via text. In recent New York performances of Mozart’s “Così Fan Tutte” by a small opera company, attendees used text messaging to decide which couples would end up together.

Other performances involving cell phones and audience participation

-- Actors carry cell phones in new "Misanthrope" production

-- Passerbys conduct orchestra in shop window with cell phones

-- «This Text Has Legs»

-- «Cellphones», a new Rock Musical

-- Cell phones and ringtones play part in new musical comedy

-- Cellphones join the orchestra

-- Ringtone Concert In Estonia

-- Text The Dancer

-- «Texterritory», an experimental interactive dance performance

-- «Text Messaging Theater»

-- Op Misses Opera Opp

emily | 5:33 PM | SMS and the Arts |
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