Israel Philharmonic To Stop Selling Beer After 3rd Movement

Tel Aviv, June 29 – Troubled by unruly attendees in the audience, Heichal Hatarbut, the Tel Aviv home of the Israel Philharmonic, has decided to stop selling alcoholic beverages beyond the third movement of orchestral works of four movements or more, and after the second movement of three-movement pieces.

The decision comes after persistent difficulties with rowdy audience members who fight, heckle the performers, and present what Heichal Hatarbut managers call  “a disruptive presence and a safety hazard for our players and guests.” The hall and orchestra boards agreed to implement the change following an incident last week when a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F Major was repeatedly interrupted by shouts of, “Your Scherzo is a joke!” and “My grandmother could play a better Allegro!” along with a stack of programs that was hurled from the second mezzanine into the orchestra section.

As in earlier incidents, several people were expelled from the concert hall, though no formal charges were filed, since the organizations did not wish to escalate matters. However, both organizations saw a disturbing pattern developing, and sought to forestall recurrences by eliminating beer after most of a featured work has been played.

Last month, Music Director Zubin Mehta stopped a performance of a Dvořák symphony he was conducting as the audience in the balcony began serenading each player by name until receiving a gesture of acknowledgment. Violinist and Concertmaster Yigal Tuneh recalls that piccolo player Lior Eitan refused to respond, and the chanting of his name became louder and louder until the entire cello line of the movement was drowned out.

The IPO has faced similar problems in the past, but not for many years. In 1989 Heichal Hatarbut and the Philharmonic posted guards at the doors to prevent concertgoers from bringing rotten vegetables into the hall in anticipation of an an avant-garde work. In what became a scandal, the hall dismissed most of its ushering staff when the latter refused to confiscate the tomatoes. The ushers maintained that the mushy, smelly produce was still more welcome than the music of Andre Hajdu.