This is purely a cultural phenomenon. There are many ways of expressing audience pleasure (or displeasure!) during a public performance. The OP might be interested to know that it was not always the case that audiences to classical music remained quiet until the last note. On the contrary! Historically speaking, that is a relatively new phenomenon. It is also true that different cultures react differently. Others have already noted differences between U.S. and British audiences. In many Russian performances, the audience tends to synchronize their clapping at the end, so that they all clap in rhythm at the very same time. Many of us in the West find that pretty weird. In the Beatnik era, jazz audiences used to snap their fingers and nod their heads. In rock concerts, folks used to light matches or cigarette lighters. Today, they light up cell phones!
In the 18th and 19th centuries, audiences used to throw rotten vegetables when they were displeased. You don't tend to see that much anymore. Maybe it's because modern audiences have to pass through security to get in?
In my opinion, the OP should just
get over it, and learn to assimilate a little better with the local culture, wherever he may be listening. A public performance benefits from being a public, shared experience -- it's
not a private one! The audience often feeds on its own pleasure and expresses it with exuberance. This is a good thing. Their spontaneous, public expression can further energize the performers, and bring about improved performances, and better experiences for everyone!
If he wants to hear every note played in comparative silence, he would be well advised to just buy a recording and listen to that in private, in a quiet room somewhere. That is not what a public performance is about.
Finally, he should also consider this matter from the perspective of the performer! Does the performer appear to be bothered by all the audience ruckus (sometimes, this is the case)? If the performer seems pleased by the audience's expression of exuberance, then he should not be one to complain about it. On the other hand, if the performer is being put off by all the disturbance, then he might be right to complain.
Methinks he doth protest too much.
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