The Live Concert Experience
A live musical performance is a unique and exciting experience. No matter the quality of a compact disc, and regardless of opportunities to hear "virtual" concerts on the Internet, nothing can replace the exhilaration of experiencing a live performance. Chamber music concerts, especially, provide audiences the opportunity to participate in a unique musical event, where the energy is unpredictable... and largely affected by the concertgoers. The musicians on stage are as aware of you as you are of them, and the attentiveness and listening of the audience affects the performance of the musicians. They feel us out there!

Silence . . .
Like a visual artist paints on a blank canvas, music is "painted" on silence, and we in the audience hear the performance against the background of that same silence. Because of that, caring audience members do their best to give the musicians, their fellow audience members, and themselves, the silence that the music needs and deserves. Almost all guidelines for conduct grow out of this one simple concept.

Coughing, and other noisemakers
For instance, coughing. Try not to do it. Most concert venues (including the Friends of Chamber Music) provide free cough drops to help you through those scratchy moments we all experience.

Also, avoid all other noisemakers -- cellophane wrapped candies or cough drops, pagers, cellular telephones. (Of course, there is an especially warm spot in the Inferno reserved for those who allow their cell phone to ring during a performance.) And despite the occasional temptation, don't hum or sing along with the music!

If you are on-call and require immediate notification of a page, the box office and usher staff will be happy to find appropriate seating for you. Please remember to turn off your cellular/digital phone.

What should I wear?
You will see every kind of attire at a Friends of Chamber Music concert. Many people enjoy dressing up a bit to make it a special occasion, and others enjoy the music more when in more casual dress. The musicians will always be in formal dress. (Well, almost always. Some groups enjoy breaking the mold!)

If you are late
If you arrive late wait until the end of a piece of music (when everyone is applauding); quietly enter the hall and choose a seat near the back. This guideline also applies when you are detained during intermission. There are no exceptions.

Try not to leave the concert hall while the musicians are playing. Please wait until the end of a piece to use the restroom or make a phone call. Of course, if you have an emergency or need to cough badly, leave quietly.

Applause
Although in Beethoven's time it was customary to clap between movements, it is generally not done today. Most listeners today feel that the emotion of the music is better preserved through the entire piece if there is silence in the short pause between movements. To find out the number of movements, look at the program page. You will find each piece is subdivided by movement, usually indicated by tempo markings in Italian. Generally (but not always!), there is a pause between each movement.

So clap at the end of full compositions, and if you lose track of the movements, clap when everyone else does. Generally, you will recognize the end of a piece because the musicians stand and bow. (And sometimes, especially in more modern pieces, that will be the only sure way to tell!) If by chance you clap at a wrong moment, don't fret. The show will go on!

Can I take pictures?
Cameras and other recording devices can create major distractions for the musicians and other audience members. Also, copyright laws and our contracts with the musicians do not permit pictures or recording. As a result, no still or video cameras, or audio recorders, are permitted at the performances.

Young People
If you are using this concert to introduce a young person to fine music, BRAVO! We ask that you do not bring children under the age of six. And, as a general rule, all children under 10 should be accompanied by an adult. Please help them abide by concert etiquette for everyone's enjoyment.

What if I need to leave during the performance?
When possible, please wait for the end of a piece to leave the concert hall. Of course, if you need to leave the hall at once due to an emergency or an incessant cough, do so as quietly as possible.

Is there a doctor in the house?
In most cases, a doctor is in attendance. Should a medical emergency arise, please contact an usher or a Friends of Chamber Music staff person.

I'm on-call and must keep my pager with me at all times.
If your pager or mobile phone can be placed on vibrator mode, please do so before the concert begins. However, if you have an audio pager and are on-call, please check your pager with the box office. Your pager will be monitored during the performance, and you'll be notified immediately of any pages. Please note that your seating assignment may be changed to accommodate such an emergency.

Other notes and reminders:
If you wish to receive future mailings from The Friends of Chamber Music, please leave your name and address at the box office, call our offices during business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) or visit our website at www.chambermusic.org and request to be put on our mailing list.

Patrons needing wheelchair seating or other assistance are asked to notify the box office when ordering tickets.

Smoking is prohibited at all concert venues. Food and drink are not permitted in the concert hall.

Lost articles may be claimed at the box office, or at the offices of The Friends of Chamber Music.

Programs and artists are subject to change. In most cases, the texts and translations for vocal performances are provided as an insert to this program book.