Clap When You Damn Well Please

The podcast explores the tradition of not clapping between movements in classical music concerts, arguing it's an outdated norm rooted in class distinction rather than musical appreciation. Dale McGowan contends that this silence suppresses genuine emotional responses to powerful musical moments, citing Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto as a prime example where applause is naturally warranted. The episode traces the history of audience behavior at concerts, revealing that applause between movements was once common and welcomed, with composers like Mozart and Beethoven expecting and even demanding enthusiastic reactions. The tradition of silence, the podcast suggests, emerged in the early 20th century as a way for the upper class to differentiate themselves from popular culture, a practice that continues to alienate modern audiences and stifle the concert experience.