It was after the third song in Britten’s Les Illuminations that Ian Bostridge decided he’d had enough. Wheeling round to face the constellation of screen lights that dotted Birmingham’s vast Symphony Hall, the tenor called the show to a halt. Could everyone please turn off their phones? It was extremely distracting.
After the performance, which was two weeks ago, Bostridge was surprised to find his phone-happy audience had been perfectly within their rights. More than that: they’d actually been encouraged to video him. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) had last year decided to drop “any perceived ‘rules’ of a traditional concert” in a bid to “challenge conventions” and get “young people” interested. Signs in its venues now ask ticketholders to “bring drinks into the auditorium. Clap whenever they like. Wear whatever makes them feel comfortable. Take photos or short snippets of film (and share them with us).”
