When ‘more’ can be less….
Some years ago I attended a concert at the Vienna Konzerthaus. Sopranos Montserrat Caballe and her Callas look-alike daughter Monserrat Marti gave a superb rendition of solos and duets for female voices. The hall was packed; the audience brought them out – and they graciously obliged – for three encores.
On the premise that one good encore leads to another, the first two were aesthetically pleasing – one was the ubiquitous ‘Flower Duet” from Bizet’s Lakme. Both audience and performers should have literally left on this high note, because the third encore, left the audience praying to be released. Rossini’s Duetto buffo di due gatti (The Cat Duet) raised ripples of laughter from the audience, but was so at odds with the mood and the luscious singing created in the recital, it was perhaps better left unsung.
This article discusses the often ignored topic of how to satisfy the audience’s expectations of an encore.
Do you have stories of encores that have memorably enhanced or ruined your concert experience?
What does an encore do for you?
Tell us at [email protected]
SdeS.
