Day 71 of 150

Day 71: Don't Clap Between Movements

At the Novosibirsk philharmonic, a father who has brought his nine-year-old son to hear a symphony orchestra for the first time talks with him in the interval.

How to study this lesson 3 steps
  1. Read the situation under the title.
  2. Read the dialogue and its translation. The audio for this lesson is coming soon.
  3. Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Russian audio, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.

Dialogue

Audio for this lesson is coming soon. For now, read the dialogue and its translation.

Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day

  1. A

    Ну что, меломан, как тебе оркестр вживую? Только честно.

    So, music lover, what do you think of a live orchestra? Be honest.

  2. B

    Здорово, только почему же никто не хлопал? Я один хлопал, как дурак, все на меня уставились.

    It's great, but why didn't anyone clap? I was the only one clapping, like an idiot, everyone stared at me.

  3. A

    Дело в том, что это была только первая часть. Хлопать между частями не принято, таков неписаный этикет.

    The thing is, that was only the first movement. You don't clap between movements, that's the unwritten etiquette.

  4. B

    А как понять, что всё закончилось? Они же замолчали, и дирижёр палочку опустил.

    But how do you know it's over? They stopped playing, and the conductor put his baton down.

  5. A

    Частей обычно три или четыре, смотри в программке. Пока дирижёр не повернётся к залу, сиди тихо и не ёрзай.

    There are usually three or four movements, look in the programme. Until the conductor turns to face the audience, sit quietly and don't fidget.

  6. B

    Ну вот, опозорился, фальстарт на весь зал. А дирижёр почему-то улыбнулся, я видел.

    Great, I've made a fool of myself, a false start in front of the whole hall. But the conductor smiled for some reason, I saw him.

  7. A

    Потому что ты хлопал от души, а не по правилам. А при Моцарте, кстати, аплодировали после каждой части.

    Because you were clapping from the heart, not by the rules. And in Mozart's day, by the way, people applauded after every movement.

  8. B

    Значит, я не ошибся, а просто родился не в том веке!

    So I didn't make a mistake, I was just born in the wrong century!

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