What is the story behind encore pieces?

[pianoplayjl]

Hey guys, another one of my annoying threads
 
Say if a first class pianist of the Kissin calibre were to perform a recital and without an encore piece, is that considered 'rude'? Are encores part of a pianist's concert etiquette? do you guys know of any famous pianists who performed in concerts without any encores?

I was just wondering while listening to La Campanella which is a very frequently performed in concerts as part of Encore.

JL

[enjru]

It seems that, nowadays, audiences have come to expect encores as part and parcel of what "SHOULD" be included in the price they paid for their ticket, so performers routinely perform one or two encore pieces, even before there is any prolonged applause.

I feel this practice is really bad. If I didn't particularly enjoy a performance, I'd still clap momentarily (out of common courtesy), but what often happens nowadays is, before I've had the chance to stop clapping and get up onto my feet to go towards the exit door, the performer has already come back out to do an encore. Well, sometimes this is not really appreciated. I'm too polite to continue getting up to go to the exit once it becomes obvious that we are going to get an encore.

The other scenario is that I've just seen/heard a very special performance, and I'm clapping furiously and stomping my feet and whistling to express my appreciation. Now, I feel I certainly have got my money's worth from this performance already, so, I'm just making lots of noise to communicate my enjoyment to the artist. It would be ideal if the artist came back out on stage and bowed or curtsied or in some way acknowledged the audience's appreciation, and he or she can come out time after time to do this as long as the applause is still forthcoming. If the artist feels so moved by the accolade that he or she wants to perform an encore, that is fine with me, but there should definitely be no compulsion or expectation that an encore is "required" or "necessary". I vehemently object to the people who shout out, "ENCORE! ENCORE!!" It seems to me rude and disrespectful of the performance, as if you are not satisfied with what you've already got in the time that you've been sitting in that concert hall. It's like Oliver asking, "Please, sir, can I have some more?"

And then, if the artist doesn't do an encore, the people feel resentful, and project their resentments onto the artist, and whine to each other complaining about how this artist is so full of him-/herself or is a sour and stingy character or is too proud and disrespectful of the audience, etc, etc...

Take home message for the artist: NO ENCORES unless you feel REAL about doing one.
For the audience: 1) Encores are NOT included in the ticket price. 2) The artist might have other things he or she wants to do away from the concert hall.

[thalbergmad]

"Send them home with a bang" as a rule I guess.

It don't matter if you hated the recital as long as the last piece sends you home happy.

MJB