"Relating to the musical dramas of Richard Wagner and the demands placed on the audience by the composer, see William Weber's essay "Wagner, Wagnerism, and Musical Idealism" in Wagnerism in European Culture and Politics" edited by David Large and William Weber (Cornell UP 1984). Wagner wanted the audience to be silent and respectful of his art." Writes Marguerite H. Helmers Mahler was so instistant on the audience not talking that for performances in Vienna he hiered detectives to patroll the hall while he conducted. -- lgs ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]