New York Philharmonic Interrupted By Chimes Mahler Never Intended

artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com:

The end of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony contains some of the most spiritual and peaceful music ever written. So when a cellphone began ringing – and ringing, ringing, ringing without cease – during a performance by the New York Philharmonic on Tuesday evening, Alan Gilbert did something conductors virtually never do.

Read the whole story: artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com

Comments

[Mark Montgomery]

05:44 PM on 01/13/2012

Not an issue at a Tool concert

[BrendaNYC]

08:57 AM on 01/13/2012

Once and for all it is time for ushers (maitre d'hotels, etc.) to be empowered to escort people out. It is ridiculous that we need announcements to remind people they are in public and should shut off their phones. Of course, most of those needing to be told, turn the little suckers back on at intermission (could there really be THAT many people waiting for organ donation?) It is outrageous that performers have to police the audience.
www.HereSheIsBoys.com

[rockysparks]

01:16 PM on 01/12/2012

The article mentions that the ushers didn't hear it. I don't know. I wasn't there. But I hope no usher loses his or her job over this selfish man's cell phone.

That said, I'd like to go from the sublime to the commonplace.

A couple of years ago, I made a foolish run to Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve. As I was shopping, this woman with three kids was wandering through the aisles, yakking on a cell phone. Her kids would fight with each other, yank stuff off the shelves and generally annoyed everyone they encountered.

I got stuck in the busy checkout line behind a large man, who was stuck behind this family. The woman kept talking on her phone while her kids inspected the candy shelves. Then they started reaching into the man's grocery cart, saying, "Mommy, what's this stuff? Mommy, Billy's touching that man's groceries!"

The man reached out, grabbed the woman's arm and yanked the cell phone away from her. Then he threw it across Wal-Mart. It must have ended up in the Lawn & Garden section.

"Lady, if you don't shut up and keep your kids' dirty hands out of my stuff, you're the next thing that's going to be flying across the aisles."

She grabbed her kids and ran out of the store, without taking any of her purchases. The man was greeted by a round of applause from shoppers and Wal-Mart personnel.

[Billk29]

03:41 AM on 01/12/2012

They should have smashed his phone and pummeled him into unconsciousness.

[DorothyT]

08:19 AM on 01/12/2012

I was at the concert on Tuesday night sitting at the rear of the Orchestra section when the Mahler was nearing its beautiful, heartbreaking conclusion. It was that moment in the 9th Symphony when you almost try to stop breathing so you can hear the music better. The music was so quiet at that point that we all could hear the "Marimba" just as Gilbert signaled the orchestra to stop playing and turned to speak to the miscreant. So just as he spoke, we all knew what was happening. In reading some of the blogs since then, I've learned that the iPhone tune was heard before then by people in the front of the hall (no doubt including the conductor as the person was in the front row or so). So Gilbert did ignore it until it took precedence over the music and couldn't be ignored. The finale was spoiled anyway.

So we can listen to a recording of the Mahler 9 and enjoy its beauty and emotion, but we'll never capture that moment again of hearing this extraordinary orchestra -- with its history with Mahler -- fill this hall and our hearts with thrilling music few are fortunate to hear in their lifetime.

That's why this incident mattered so much.