At London's Royal Opera House, booing is not a cherished tradition. While "bravo" and other expressions of approval are a staple at opera performances, "booing has long been a part of the genre". This was starkly evident during a recent performance of Puccini's Turandot when tenor Roberto Alagna fell ill midway through the show. Despite the best efforts of his colleagues to fill in the gap, the audience expressed discontent with the decision not to perform one of opera's most famous moments.
The backlash against this move was swift and vocal, as many in attendance felt that their experience had been disrupted by a perceived oversight on the part of the company. The general consensus among those interviewed seemed to be that the booing was primarily aimed at the artistic choices made during the show rather than Alagna himself. However, as opera historian Flora Willson noted, this sentiment can be complex.
"The way audiences respond to opera singers is akin to football," she explained. "Just as yelling and chanting in a stadium doesn't stop the game from continuing, booing at an opera can have a significant impact on the performance, whereas applause does not." Historically, this has been particularly pronounced in theatres with more traditional audience models.
The shift towards a different type of audience engagement is a key factor behind the evolution in audience behavior. "Audience demographics have changed dramatically over the past two centuries," Willson said. In modern times, opera houses are less reliant on traditional subscription systems and instead cater to a broader range of patrons.
Critics also point out that this phenomenon can lead to harsher treatment for performers who inevitably fall short. Former English National Opera director John Berry noted the practice of booing singers at curtain calls is more common in some European venues, with creative teams often bracing themselves for such reactions.
It's an issue that resonates deeply among those in the industry. Former Guardian columnist and opera enthusiast Martin Kettle reflected on how his own encounters with heckling had left a lasting impact on him. He noted how this kind of behavior reflects societal attitudes toward art – 'boorish' and increasingly exacerbated by social media.
For many, booing can be a manifestation of passionate desire for the work they perceive as flawed or incomplete. Tim Ashley, an opera critic, expressed concern over the trend of "pantomime-type" booing, where audiences vocalize their dissatisfaction at performances regardless of the artistic merit.
The backlash against this move was swift and vocal, as many in attendance felt that their experience had been disrupted by a perceived oversight on the part of the company. The general consensus among those interviewed seemed to be that the booing was primarily aimed at the artistic choices made during the show rather than Alagna himself. However, as opera historian Flora Willson noted, this sentiment can be complex.
"The way audiences respond to opera singers is akin to football," she explained. "Just as yelling and chanting in a stadium doesn't stop the game from continuing, booing at an opera can have a significant impact on the performance, whereas applause does not." Historically, this has been particularly pronounced in theatres with more traditional audience models.
The shift towards a different type of audience engagement is a key factor behind the evolution in audience behavior. "Audience demographics have changed dramatically over the past two centuries," Willson said. In modern times, opera houses are less reliant on traditional subscription systems and instead cater to a broader range of patrons.
Critics also point out that this phenomenon can lead to harsher treatment for performers who inevitably fall short. Former English National Opera director John Berry noted the practice of booing singers at curtain calls is more common in some European venues, with creative teams often bracing themselves for such reactions.
It's an issue that resonates deeply among those in the industry. Former Guardian columnist and opera enthusiast Martin Kettle reflected on how his own encounters with heckling had left a lasting impact on him. He noted how this kind of behavior reflects societal attitudes toward art – 'boorish' and increasingly exacerbated by social media.
For many, booing can be a manifestation of passionate desire for the work they perceive as flawed or incomplete. Tim Ashley, an opera critic, expressed concern over the trend of "pantomime-type" booing, where audiences vocalize their dissatisfaction at performances regardless of the artistic merit.
just thinkin bout this booing thingy... seems like its all about societal expectations & pressure 2 perform perfect 
opera's supposed 2 be this high art form but when it gets performed live, people get harsh w/ their criticism 
social media's definitely a factor in makin' everyone feel like they gotta speak up (or boo) 2 make their point 
what if its just about the performers havin 2 deal w/ hecklers & still give it their all? 
! I mean, I get it that some people are super invested in the performance and might be disappointed if something doesn't go exactly as planned, but booing? That's just mean 
. Like, I've seen some pretty rough shows in my time, but booing at an opera is a whole different level of harsh 
! It's like people think it's okay to trash performers online just because they didn't meet their expectations 
. Newsflash: opera singers are human beings too, and they deserve some respect 
!
. I mean, think about it - if someone's having a bad show, they're already feeling pretty crummy 
, and then you go out there and boo them? That's just cruel 
.
I know some people might say it's just passionate criticism, but to me, it feels like something more... negative 
.
. I get that maybe the performance wasn't perfect but yelling and booing isn't gonna make it better 
. We should be supporting each other, not tearing each other down 
. And I agree with Flora Willson, audience demographics have changed a lot over time and now we're more exposed to criticism through social media 
. It's like, can't we just appreciate the art for what it is without making it personal? 
but seriously tho its kinda sad that some ppl dont have a filter 
. Back in my day, we didn't have all these fancy opera houses with screaming crowds, but we still managed to enjoy the music 
.
I mean, it's an art form, right? We're supposed to appreciate the beauty and emotion behind it, not just trash the singer if they mess up a bit. I guess that's just the way things are now, though - everyone's got their opinions on social media and it's hard to ignore 'em 
.
. Opera should be like that too! We need to focus on enjoying the music and the performers, not just tearing 'em down 
.
But what's really interesting to me is how this trend reflects our society's attitude towards art 
. And it's not just the singers who are affected - the entire creative team has to deal with the aftermath of a bad performance. It's like, booing is just an easier way for people to express themselves rather than actually engaging with the art itself 
. I think we need to rethink our approach to criticism and try to be more constructive in our feedback... or at least, not make it so public 
and it got me thinking... how cool would it be to have a giant screen showing classic films under the stars? It's like a whole different kind of experience, you know? I mean, no distractions from the crowd, just you and the movie. Although, I guess that raises an interesting point about audience engagement too... if people are so vocal about booing at live performances, would they be more relaxed in a screening environment? 
. and yeah, i feel the criticism of booing bein harsh on performers, but at the same time, u gotta admit, it can be kinda distracting 
... like, booing is one ting, but bein a cyber bully is another 
... like what's the big deal? We all get sick sometimes and stuff gets cancelled 
. And yeah I know booing is supposed to be like cheering but it's all about context, right? 
. I mean what's next, gonna start booing the lighting guy too if he messes up a change of scene? 
? And what's with this "it's just part of the genre" nonsense? That was PAST 100 years ago, mate! Times have changed, and so should our behavior. I've been to some concerts where the crowd is rowdy, but at least they're singing along or stomping their feet (the cool way), not booing someone who's just trying to give it their all 
Like, what's next? Heckling at the Met Gala? 
. But what really gets me is how people are gonna boo because they didn't get what they wanted from the performance 
️. It's not the end of the world and the singer still has to live with the consequences 
. We gotta be more supportive and less harsh, or we'll just keep having problems 
. Like what if someone has an off night? Booing them at curtain call is already harsh, but then u gotta deal with all the drama and negativity online afterwards 
. COME ON, PEOPLE! LET'S BE A LITTLE MORE UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECTFUL 
.