BBC - Philharmonic - Broadcasts

For those who have never been to an orchestral performance before it may seem a little daunting.

But classical music isn't just for music experts and the elite; no matter what age or background you are from, and even if you don’t know any of the music, the sound and energy of a full symphony orchestra playing live is an exhilarating experience!

Follow our quick guide below and you'll soon be 'bravo'-ing with the regulars!:

Quick Guide to Orchestral Concerts:

Don’t worry about what to wear. Some people will be very dressed up to attend a concert but some will arrive in jeans and a jumper. Obviously you shouldn’t really turn up in your shorts after the gym (although you could if you really wanted to!) but there really isn’t a strict dress code.

Get some background. When you understand the story behind the music you can relate better to the emotion and events that it describes. Quite often there will be a Preview before the concert that may involve a talk or discussion about the music. The concert programme will have detailed notes on the pieces, composer(s) and performers and will provide a good context for the performance. You can purchase one of them at the concert.

Arrive on time. The concert will start at the exact time advertised (often 7.30pm) but if you are late you may not be able to enter the concert hall until after the first piece so that you don’t disturb the performance.

Switch off your mobile phone. You must remember to switch off your mobile phone before the performance as it can be a terrible distraction for the conductor and orchestra if it goes off in a quiet section! The acoustics in venues like The Bridgewater Hall are so good that it will be heard by everyone in the room, who might not appreciate the Crazy Frog’s version of Beethoven’s 5th!

Only cough between the movements! As mentioned, the acoustics in a concert hall are extremely good so lots of coughing and spluttering through the performance will distract the entire orchestra and audience! If at all possible try to wait for the gaps between movements when everyone takes a moment to clear throats and rearrange themselves ready for the next movement.

Wait until the end to clap. Orchestral pieces are played as complete works so although they may be broken into separate pieces, or movements, the performance is only applauded after the whole piece has finished.

Don’t start clapping too hard… Because your hands will begin to hurt after a good five minutes of it! The applause for orchestral concerts lasts a long time as you will be applauding around 100 people who are each very talented and have worked hard for your appreciation! The clapping will usually finish when the orchestra leader (not the conductor) stands to lead the orchestra off stage.

Attending an Orchestral Concert