Sir, – Last Friday I travelled to the “3 Theatre” (formerly the 02) in Dublin to attend the Andrea Bocelli concert. The concert was late starting (which is apparently the norm in Ireland now), latecomers were admitted in their droves without even an apology up to the interval, and the prohibition of recording and filming was not enforced. Am I the only person who gets upset when there is constant chatter from behind in the middle of an aria or orchestral piece? Am I expecting too much not to have to sit next to or behind someone constantly using their iPad or iPhone to take numerous photographs from every angle during every song? Am I asking too much of the promoters of these concerts to enforce their own rules and to leave the latecomers outside? There were so many photographs being taken last Friday the scene was reminsicent of the intermittent flashing of Christmas tree lights. Yet nothing was said other than a general announcement at the beginning of the evening, when many of the latecomers were not even present.
What was worse, people were emailing photographs to their friends and then answering the emails, after having an audible discussion, of course. What is it about Irish society that we can no longer arrive on time, sit, listen and enjoy? Intervals were made for chatting.
The ticket (excluding charges) cost €166 and was paid for in April. This was a most expensive trip; I won’t be spending my hard-earned cash in that theatre again. We as a civilised society lost a lot in the Celtic Tiger, and not all of it money.
Thank heavens for the Gate and the National Concert Hall, where standards are still maintained. – Yours, etc,
MIRIAM MURPHY ,
Cork.