New York Philharmonic Performance Stopped For Ringing Cellphone (VIDEO)

NEW YORK — It's the dreaded sound at any live performance – a ringing cellphone.

That's what happened Tuesday night at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall toward the end of Gustav Mahler's Ninth Symphony by the New York Philharmonic.

Conductor Alan Gilbert stopped the orchestra until the phone was silenced.

Betsy Vorce, speaking for Lincoln Center, says an announcement is usually made before every performance telling audience members to turn off their phones. If a device does go off, ushers discreetly ask the owner to turn it off.

This time, when the iPhone went off, it was the conductor who turned his head to signal his displeasure. But the ringing from the first row persisted.

Gilbert asked that the offending noise be turned off and finally stopped the orchestra until it was.

Comments

[Brett Tonaille]

03:47 AM on 01/15/2012

This is so dismaying. It doesn't matter WHAT the event is, or how respectful the whole room is being, someone will always let their phone ring, or whisper non-stop to their neighbor, or sit there texting. And during films this kind of person seems to have a knack for doing it RIGHT at the climax - during the big dramatic scene in "The Artist", the man next to me decided that would be a good time to chat with his wife; during "The Descendants" when Clooney does some of his most moving work ever, a woman behind me decided it would be a good time to reach into a loud paper bag. Etc.
And when it comes to electronic devices, there is just always one person who doesn't believe the rules apply to them. Didn't this clown think to shut the phone off the FIRST time? Of course not. They live in a separate zone, where the rules don't apply - and there's one in every movie, concert, event of any sort you go to.
The conductor was right. What I don't get is why this person was not escorted out, hard and fast.

[Robert Copp]

12:51 AM on 01/15/2012

Ignorant cell phone user thet said turn it off kick that person out for life

[fluteprincess]

12:29 AM on 01/15/2012

People really need to learn how to detatch themselves from the darn phone. They act like it's life support and they're afraid to not have it attached to their hip. At LEAST, if you are waiting on seriously important news such as a family member's health status, put it on VIBRATE. I work as a vet tech and I can't even tell you how many times I'm standing there asking questions about a sick pet when all of a sudden they answer the phone in the middle of our conversation. And now only do they answer, I've had at least a handful of them have a FULL conversation lasting 10 minutes. At that point I just walk out and come back in ten. I have other patients to help whose owners are less preoccupied with their social life. I just want to look at them and scream "REALLY?!?! NOW???" lol

[robvedd4]

12:31 AM on 01/15/2012

Thank you for the insight.

[bmitche]

12:40 AM on 01/15/2012

I've seen worse. I saw three lanes of trafic stop to let a guy cross the street. He never stopped yakking on his cellphone.

[NYC07]

11:04 PM on 01/14/2012

Personally I think theatres should employ snipers with "Silencers" of course whose job it would be to pick off these self-serving buffoons who feel that they are more important than the music.

[robvedd4]

12:15 AM on 01/15/2012

Police found said body in the dumpster with cell phone inserted into colon.

[T12345]

10:50 PM on 01/14/2012

Katherine Hepburn did the same thing because of a camera flash during a play. What purpose does it serve to make the entire audience uncomfortable rather than just the absent-minded patron? Jealousy that a Green Day ringtone was getting more attention than another typical rendition of an over-played symphony? If you're being paid to play by those you're trying to humiliate, then be professional and play the dang thing.

[ntr721]

12:54 AM on 01/15/2012

yoú are a dope.

[sansainte]

12:02 PM on 01/15/2012

You must be one of those self center geniuses who doesn't care a hoot that everyone else in the concert hall PAID to hear the concert not your phone ringing or you screaming into it. If you cannot spend an hour or two disconnected from your phone do all of us a favor please..........Don't go to the concert. Grow up. It isn't all about you.

[sealynnleaf]

09:55 PM on 01/14/2012

Like many posts here, good for the conductor. Even I have to constantly remind people in the middle of a movie, work, lecture, etc. to leave the room or turn their phones off. There is a time and a place for phones, people need to remember when it is or is not appropriate.

[tammyida]

09:36 PM on 01/14/2012

I also hate the people who're talking on the cell phones while sitting in a bathroom stall. PLEASEEEE isn't anything sacred anymore?

[Shancarp]

10:03 PM on 01/14/2012

who cares if someone talks on the phone in the bathroom...get over it...not worth your time or energy...hating hurts no one but you...

[pbaub]

09:17 PM on 01/14/2012

maybe the cell phone companys could help out and advertize to use their products with discretion and courtesy. i have gotten where i hate cell phone and texters!!! give me a break !! we lived just fine beofre we became slaves to this electronica

[turnturnturn]

09:15 PM on 01/14/2012

Good for the conductor. Probably should have escorted the person out.

[jml1018]

08:57 PM on 01/14/2012

I thought the music from the Orchestra was louder than the cell phone

[TodayNo]

09:11 PM on 01/14/2012

Louder or no... it should be the only thing heard... thats the reson to be there... listen, enjoy and ssavor the perfomance. Not hear cell phones, chitchat, snack wraps, coufs, throat clearings, or, otherwise. Sit, enjoy and let enjoy the music... thats why we went.

[parrotista]

10:22 PM on 01/14/2012

Well, no - that's why this was so bad. The 4th movement of Mahler's 9th gets very quiet at times. To many people, it's Mahler's musical farewell to life as it is the last symphony that he completed before he died, which was just over 100 years ago.

Although I also agree with the reply by TodayNo: "Louder or no... it should be the only thing heard... that's the reason to be there."

- Craig

[Pringle62]

08:52 PM on 01/14/2012

Good for the Maestro!!! The person should have been thrown out. I was in church at a baptism last year and my sister's cell phone rang. I couldn't believe it!!! Me and my brother in law were quietly yelling at her to turn the damn thing off. In church of all places. Technology is becoming the ruler of our lives. But I'll tell you right now, if the phone rings on the wall in my house and I don't feel like picking it up, I don't.

[mulepick]

08:52 PM on 01/14/2012

Ushers should walk around shooting cell phone offerenders in the head. Great recidivism rates. That goes for texters in movies, too.

[ptumember]

09:00 PM on 01/14/2012

I can't stand movie texters... glad you said it too... I am bound to get in an argument at the movies every time I go

[Dasn Hogan Chicago]

09:19 PM on 01/14/2012

I absolutely agree with you. I would go twice a week just to thank the ushers.

[mmbcf]

08:46 PM on 01/14/2012

Good for him. Those rude people should be thrown out without a refund. Manners and class are becoming a thing of the past. People at that type of concert should know better

[OneHumanist]

09:32 PM on 01/14/2012

The candy wrapper and chatters need to go too. (And) Is it just me, or does it bother anyone else that people go to the theater (Broadway, Ballet, Classical performances) and dress in shorts or raggedy jeans? I've seen it here at Play House Square and I don't get it.

[TodayNo]

08:38 PM on 01/14/2012

Great ,Maestro Gilbert! Sorry you had to do it, but, somehow people have to learn to be civic, something that evidentlly our school system should start in first grade... a little to late to teach the present population. Actions like yours may make a dent in the egotistica, self centered and inconsiderate we have become. From walking, driving, shopping and even standing in line.
Adults have become uncivilized and the children are evn worse... they do as they see.
Again... my hats off to you!
TodayNo

[firecat001]

08:32 PM on 01/14/2012

This doesn't even surprise me. I've been to two live shows recently (a Christmas musical and Cavalia) and both times people got up and left during the curtain call. How rude!! These people have practiced for hours and hours to entertain you! Curtain call is when you show your appreciation for their hard work!

There were also children completely out of control and cell phones ringing, but I guess I've managed to tune that crap out now.

The problem with common courtesy is that it isn't really all that common.