Steven Isserlis: The Human Factor in Music

Zoom concerts have all the elements of a normal concert, so why do we feel like we’re missing something? Steven Isserlis gives his opinion on why live music and audience dynamics matter.

Musicians play on - but how we miss the audience

A few days ago, I heard on the radio a recording of a piano recital from London's Wigmore Hall. Halfway through, I realised with a jolt that what was making me feel truly emotional was not the playing (fine though it was), but the sounds of the audience reacting, clapping - even coughing.