HASTINGS AUDIENCES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 146, 5 June 1913, Page 6

HASTINGS AUDIENCES.

TO THE iOITCE. Sir. —Numerically there was a splendid audience at the Orchestral Society's concert last evening ; but it was, as Hastings audiences almost invariably are. cold and unsympa , thetic. For instance, scarcely any one had the common courtesy to give the conductor on his first ap pearance the welcome of a little ap plause. It was the same throughout the evening; all the applause was the work of a few enthusiasts, while the bulk of the audience, as usual, sat with stolid indifference to the beautiful music performed before them. This sort of thing is not the case elsewhere. In Napier, for in stance, the audiences do at least know something of the etiquette of the Concert Hall. Do not think that every item should be indiscrimin ately encored; audiences should always use their judgment in such matters : but of all the audiences J have ever seen, Hastings audiences are the coldest. Of course, I do not refer to entertainments where the hoodlum element is strongly in evidence. Why the Hastings people so phlegmatic at good concerts ?—I am. etc., COURTESY.