Frequently Asked Questions

This is my first time going to the Symphony. What can I expect?

There can be stuffiness associated with classical symphonic music, but I'd like you to remember that first and foremost the composers were musicians and were not always thought of as reputable. Due to his reputation, J.S. Bach had to sign a contract agreeing to " avoid all unseemly society and suspicious company " before they let him become the town organist in Mulhausen, Germany. (He then married a cousin, but that is another story.) Richard Wagner was so good at skipping school that when he was sixteen the school sent a note to his parents informing them that their son had not shown up for six months. Were they surprised! Later, when he went to the university, he gambled, dueled, drank, chased women and had to drop out. Beethoven was once thrown in jail as a vagabond because he was so unkempt the local policeman did not recognize him even though he was famous throughout Europe. Frenchman Hector Berlioz took so much... well, you get the idea.

How to Prepare? ...or Not

Our web site lists all the music played at our concerts. Eventually we will have samples of the music on our web site, but for now you will have to Google the piece and listen to a sample on-line. Or go the library, buy a CD with the music or simply come to the concert, read the notes that are in your free program, sit back and soak it in.

When should I arrive?

The lobby opens one hour before the concert and the doors to the theater open 30 minutes before the concert. Come early: there are refreshments available in the lobby, including wine, soda, and cookies. There are also people to watch. I recommend getting to your seats early so you can read the program notes and watch the musicians as they come in and warm up.

What is appropriate dress?

The Symphony provides a sophisticated musical experience, without sophisticated rules. Comfort is the key to enjoying your favorite symphony music. We want your evening out to be as fun as possible, so dress up or dress down...as long as you dress comfortably.

The younger people in attendance often dress casually while many of our older concert-goers dress up somewhat, which might mean a jacket for men and a dress or suit for women.

For the most part, concerts have a certain amount of dignity and ceremony, but what you really need aren't pearls or diamonds, but ears and a soul. We are happy to have you here...and hear.

What are my pre-concert dining options?

Experienced concert-goers know to eat and drink after the concert. Save eating at the buffet and slamming a Big Gulp for times--especially for the women in the crowd---as the women's restroom at the State Theater offers only ten stalls. So eat and drink lightly beforehand and then go out and talk about the experience over a fine meal.

Where am I going to park?

There is a common perception that parking near the State Theatre is a problem. There is a ramp across the street, a parking lot one block east by the linrary, on-street parking on Barstow St, another lot just across the Eau Claire River and RCU allows Theater patrons to park in their ample lots after business hours and on weekends. We have a small handout we send with ticket orders showing parking.

What if I am late to the concert?

Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of house management at an appropriate interval in the concert program. Those who wish to leave before the end of the concert are requested to do so between program works in order not to disturb others.

What if I can't attend a concert?

Please do not let your tickets go unused. If you cannot attend a concert, you can give your tickets away to worthy friends or call our office at 715-832-6366 by 5:00 p.m. on concert day to release your seat for resale. A receipt acknowledging the value of your ticket(s) will be issued enabling you to receive a full tax deduction.

Applause: To clap or not to clap?

Don't ever be in a rush to applaud. You do not have to be the first to clap. You might be the only one because the crowd following along in the program, that knows the piece isn't over yet and in fact only one movement or section of a piece has ended. Take a breath in between movements. When the piece is over then you can applaud. Here are some clues that the piece has ended and you may applaud:

There is also a very good sonic reason not to rush to applaud. The theater itself acts as part of the orchestra and the music bounces around for a moment or two after the orchestra has stopped playing. Let the old girl have her final say.

Having said that, clapping between movements is a very hot topic in classical music. The custom, of course, is not to clap, but they don't say anything about not coughing. (We offer free cough drops at every concert.) Audiences that are too polite to cough when the music is playing have sudden violent attacks of tuberculosis between movements, which certainly disrupts the flow of the piece. And there are some pieces of music where a movement ends with a flourish of excitement, such as Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, that it feels unnatural not to be brought to such a high without applauding and throwing cash and flowers at the soloist.

Here in Eau Claire there is almost always a smattering of applause between movements: appropriate or not is open for discussion.

May I take pictures or record the concert?

The unauthorized use of cameras and recording devices is not permitted.

Is my cell phone considered an orchestral instrument?

Please disconnect the signal on your watch, phones, etc. before the concert begins.

May I bring my child?

We definitely encourage you to bring your child to the concert. While it is never too early for them to start enjoying the magic of classical music, we suggest only children over six years ago attend a concert. Introduce the younger children to music at home. We ask that all of our audience members--regardless of age--do not whisper, fidget or otherwise distract other audience members.

Where can I pick up a concert program?

We distribute free programs at the door. Take a copy to learn more about the artist, orchestra and repertoire, and get even more out of your concert experience. The program is also an excellent master calendar for other classical music, theater and arts for the season. Take it home with you and bring it back for the next concert. You might want to read the program notes for the next concert and then enjoy it even more than you did the last one.

------Mark Blaskey, Executive Director