It is not just contemporary brass band music that occasionally receives a bad reception on its first performance then.....

Fireworks

From 'Spectrum' in 1969 and 'Fireworks' to more latterly 'Prague' and 'The Maunsell Forts', brass band audiences have every now and again shown their displeasure at what they are hearing by voting with their feet when they feel a well loved tradition comes under threat of 'modernisation'.

However, even with a new, reflective look at 'Swan Lake' on the cards for the British Open later this year it would come as a huge surprise if the audience at Symphony Hall reacted to its first performance anything like the well heeled punters at the Royal Opera House this week.

Nude rape scene

The old pot boiler 'William Tell' (first performed in 1829) has been given a modern 'make-over' by Director Damiano Michieletto — to include a nude rape scene of a young woman by army officers (although in Act 1 of the original, Leuthold does kill an Austrian soldier who has tried rape his daughter).

It is though all rather incongruously played out to the delicate Rossini accompaniment.

Sustained booing

It was greeted by what was called by The Stage publication as; 'the noisiest and most sustained booing I can ever recall during any performance at this address."

They added that it was "Intellectually poverty-stricken, emotionally crass."By all accounts there was also a great deal of swearing and abuse as a large proportion of the audience vented its displeasure towards the stage.

Intolerant

However, others defended the production, saying that they were 'in shock at this level of intolerance'.

Speaking about the production before its first performance, the Director told the BBC, "Tradition for me has to be like a trampoline — to jump to somewhere. It's not to drag you down.

Of course different countries have different aesthetics and tastes. My task is not to fulfil the tastes, my task is to give you something good."

It was greeted by what was called by The Stage publication as; 'the noisiest and most sustained booing I can ever recall during any performance at this address."4BR

Fireworks rubbish

So — some 40 years after composer Elgar Howarth was greeted by shouts of 'Rubbish!' as he made his way to the King's Hall stage after 'Fireworks' was played at the British Open, strong opinions about what is deemed good and what is not, when put before us to enjoy is not the preserve of brass band audiences then...

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33324759