Die Walkure

A half day today to head to London for the Proms. It was Wagner's Die Walkure, a 5 hour marathon of music, it was a great performance by all concerned led by Daniel Barenboim as the conductor of the Staatskapelle Berlin. There was also Welsh interest with the great Bryn Terfel as Wotan, as usual from the great man it was a magnificent performance.

I had good seats as I was right by the orchestra; just watching a full orchestra perform is a delight and amazing. Daniel Barenboim is your typical eccentric conductor as well; he's a bit noisy as well with a few "oooooffffff's" when he wanted more power from the orchestra. We reckon he nearly clipped Bryn a few times, and at least a couple of times during the performance I don't think he was best pleased by the violins, he gave them a right old stare.

Now a question! We all know it's wrong to take photographs or videos during a performance and the majority of people abide by that because you know it could put people off, especially if your flash on your camera goes off. But what about at the end of the performance when the orchestra and stars are taking the applause from the audience? Is it acceptable to take photos then?

I only ask because last night the stewards in our area were extremely strict, but yet all around the hall there were flash bulbs going off as people took photographs to capture the memories. This upset one person as clearly it was happening elsewhere in the hall, but these stewards were pouncing on people like they were working for MI5. Personally speaking I don't think there is nothing wrong with taken pictures after the performance and whilst the applause is taking place.