Recital lengths

[pianovirus]

Having read some anecdotes on recitals/concerts in the 18th/19th century, it gives the impression that they tended to be much longer than nowadays (it seems that 3-4 hours were quite often reached). Was this really the rule rather than the exception? And then, why and when did that change? For sure it's demanding enough for a performer to play for 2 hours, but that must have been true at those times, too. Just wondering....

[faulty_damper]

Where did you hear this?

The recital, before Liszt revolutionized it, was shared by numerous performers on stage.  Singers, flutists, violinists and other string players, performed the on very same stage.  They often collaborated with each other to make music.  It was more social than it was after Liszt.

 Musicians were not as specialized with their instruments like it is now.  Musicians could usually play more than one instrument fluently and would usually perform on any instrument during such social gatherings.  There was nothing more monotonous than to listen to one instrument performing alone the entire evening.  The aesthetic appeal required other instrumentalists and singers just to be palatable for the audience.

[gerryjay]

 i mostly agree with damper but i have to add something.
 the practice of very long recitals with several performers was in vogue as late as the early twentieth century. i think that really liszt is the main figure in that social change, but it was very gradual. btw in those collective recitals was common to find very important and good pianists, guitarrists, violinists, etc.

[pianovirus]

Thanks for your answers so far.

Where did you hear this?

I got this impression based on a number of anecdotes I read. For example, there is this concert evening of December 22, 1808. Within one evening of four hours, people could hear the premieres of Beethoven's 5th and 6th symphonies, 4th piano concerto, and a mass....

Then I also have seen some facsimiles of recital programmes of Anton Rubinstein and they looked massive to me. Quick look at Wikipedia seems to confirm this: "Rubinstein's concert programs, like his playing style, were gargantuan. Hanslick mentioned in his 1884 review that the pianist played more than 20 pieces in one concert in Vienna, including three sonatas [...]". Again, I would have loved to attend such an evening....

But what I gather from your responses is that this was the exception rather than the rule even at those times?

[gerryjay]

But what I gather from your responses is that this was the exception rather than the rule even at those times?

sorry, i didnīt express myself clearly then. as far as i know, it was common both at court events and at public gatherings. the solo public theatrical recital (aka modern recital  ) is a late 19th century trend, if i am not mistaken. if so, someone correct me please.

[faulty_damper]

But what I gather from your responses is that this was the exception rather than the rule even at those times?

At least for piano recitals in that post-Liszt era, such long piano recitals were usually an exception.

[lostinidlewonder]

Back then concerts where a different deal as to what they are today. Back then there was no recordings to listen to on your CD player so the only time people really got to listen to music was at concerts, so naturally they where longer than nowadays.

[pianovirus]

Back then concerts where a different deal as to what they are today. Back then there was no recordings to listen to on your CD player so the only time people really got to listen to music was at concerts, so naturally they where longer than nowadays.

I don't think that the possibility to listen to music on a CD player would lead to fewer people attending concerts. And even if it were so, the natural consequence would be to have more, rather than longer recitals. No?

And just to sum up the previous postings. Apparently, single-solist recitals of the extent of Rubinstein (as I mentioned in  a previous post) seem to have been the exception, rather than the rule also at those times.

[rachfan]

The Anton Rubinstein recitals were not the norm of the day, rather, they were unique.  Those were, in fact, seven "historical recitals" given in the 1880s that were absolutely massive in scope, presenting an extensive survey of the most notable composers and repertoire from the 16th century right up until Rubinstein's own day.  Rubinstein practiced for  many months to prepare for those recitals.  The events were packed and caused a major sensation.  I don't believe that such a feat of that proportion has ever been duplicated by any artist since. 

There were artists who took big risks in innovating to be sure.  For example, take Liszt who ditched the violinist and soprano from the programs, turned the concert grand sideways on the stage rather than having his back to the audience per tradition, and played his solo recitals, very often his own works, from memory rather than reading from scores.  Or Hans von Bulow, who would program several Beethoven Sonatas in one evening, while his impressario fretted, fearing that the audience would either go to sleep or walk out or both. Or Schnabel who in the 20th century performed the entire Beethoven Sonatas in live radio broadcasts over several programs.  But when it comes to Anton  Rubinstein's historical recitals, that mind-boggling undertaking has never been replicated.  He was one of a kind.

Most solo recitals today go for say 55 minutes to an hour and a quarter.  If we could transport ourselves back to the late 19th century to observe typical solo recitals then, I would bet we would find that on average it was not much different.   

[lostinidlewonder]

I don't think that the possibility to listen to music on a CD player would lead to fewer people attending concerts. And even if it were so, the natural consequence would be to have more, rather than longer recitals. No?

It is hard to imagine what it was like back then, but seriously, nowadays hearing music is nothing special. We hear it everywhere, its on TV, its on the radio, cds etc. Back then hearing music was a rare treat, a serious deal, only the very rich could listen to music being played daily. It is similar to the death of video arcades, in the 70s, 80s they where a huge thing, nowadays you don't see it as much single the home computer has taken over.