I have been trying to find out exactly when listeners and performers decided that applause between movements would not be allowed, but nobody seems to have been willing to admit that they were the culprit.

About Emanuel Ax

Emanuel “Manny” Axis a Grammy-winning American classical pianist. He is known for his chamber music collaborations with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinists Isaac Stern and Young Uck Kim, as well as his piano recitals and performances with major orchestras in the world.

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More quotes from Emanuel Ax

Mozart often wrote to his family that certain variations or sections of pieces were so successful that they had to be encored immediately, even without waiting for the entire piece to end.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

The stage is close to being in the middle of the hall, so that the performers are surrounded by the listeners. I feel that we are all experiencing the music together.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

I have been coming to Los Angeles since 1975 to perform.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

It is wonderful to see how happy all my friends in the LA Philharmonic are in their new home.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

I have always thought that my ear is also very influenced by my eyes.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

Applause should be an emotional response to the music, rather than a regulated social duty.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

Even if you don’t like a concert of mine, please, please applaud at the end anyway.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

We seem to have set up some very arcane rules as to when it is actually OK to applaud.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

Sometimes I wish that applause would come just a bit later, when it is so beautifully hushed that I feel like holding my breath in the silence of the end.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

I have been trying to find out exactly when listeners and performers decided that applause between movements would not be allowed, but nobody seems to have been willing to admit that they were the culprit.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

Everyone is different. Sometimes it’s very exciting; sometimes very scary.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

All of us love applause, and so we should – it means that the listener likes us!

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

Pianists don’t argue too much generally because we have such a hard time just getting things right; arguing is for string players.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

Everybody makes his path differently.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

If the audience walks out of a concert thinking, What a wonderful experience, then we have done our job.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

The sheer force of the music calls for a wild audience reaction.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

If there were no rules about when to applaud, we in the audience would have the right response almost always.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

A lot of it just has to do with luck, serendipity.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

We should welcome applause whenever it comes.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

I usually only play with very close friends.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist

How wonderful it is to play with someone you feel very close to.

Emanuel Ax

American pianist