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Leonard Slatkin & DSO to audience: leave cell phones on?

By Michael Vincent on February 27, 2014

As some of you recall, last October Pianist Christian Zacharias, halted a performance of Haydn’s Piano Concerto in D major with the Gothenburg Symphony, to berate a audience member over a repeatedly ringing cell phone. The guilty party refused to answer it, so Zacharias and the entire orchestra just sat there –waiting.

You could cut the tension with a knife.

Everyone knows Franz Joseph Haydn was well-known for his practical musical jokes but the sound of a cell phone clearly wasn’t one he had envisioned. You can see the “Hyden Killed by Cellphone” footage here:

 

 

It is no secret cell phones are a big no no in the concert hall, and I’m sure most of us who live in the “real world” appreciate just how disruptive they can be. The ritual of turning them off represents a simple act that marks an evening devoted to music. Hopefully the music rewards our efforts, but it is the least we can do.

Yesterday in Florida, Leonard Slatkin with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra surprised everyone by asking the audience to actually turn on (!) their cell phones. They were invited to use them to take pictures during the encore, and to post them on facebook, twitter and other social media websites. The audience didn’t know quite what to make of it, but were obliged.

Leonard Slatkin was quoted, “You’ve heard that we’re the most accessible orchestra on the planet, and tonight you’re going to be the most accessible audience on the planet. For the first time I’d like to invite you to turn your cell phones for a change, and cross the stage’s barrier by capturing this moment and posting your photos to your favorite social media channels.”

The DSO has always been savvy with self-broadcast technology. In 1922, they were one of the first orchestras to show a commitment to broadcast radio by presenting a show that continues to this day with their free Live from Orchestra Hall webcast series.

Thanks to a $400,000 grant from the GM Foundation, the DSO have been enjoying a sunny tour in Florida and have launched this comprehensive social media campaign to support it. A Tumblr page has been setup to document the orchestra’s pursuits onstage and off while on the road. An number of photos include Frances the Flamingo, a personified plastic yard flamingo and tour mascot. The hashtag #DSOFLoridaTour tracks mentions across all social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr.

 

2014 Detroit Symphony Orchestra Florida Tour.
2014 Detroit Symphony Orchestra Florida Tour.

 

Performances include Gould’s Spirituals for Orchestra in celebration of the composer’s 100th birthday, Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1 (featuring Olga Kern), Brahms’ Violin Concerto (featuring Hilary Hahn), Brahms’ Symphony No. 4,Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini (featuring Olga Kern), and three pieces by Ravel: Mother Goose Suite, Pavane for a Dead Princess and Bolero.

Michael Vincent

Michael Vincent
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