What’s up with all the people coming and going from the stage?
As the concert begins, most of the members of the Orchestra will be seated on stage. Then, the concertmaster (the first chair violinist) will come out and take a bow, and the audience claps in greeting. The concertmaster then turns to the orchestra and indicates for the oboe to sound an A. The orchestra members use this to tune their instruments. Next, the conductor and any soloists come out and the audience applauds in greeting again. As a greeting to the orchestra, the conductor will often shake hands with the concertmaster, then bow to greet the audience. Finally, the conductor will turn from the audience and, with a gesture of the baton, begin the music. The next time the audience applauds is after the completion of the first piece of music, at which time the conductor will turn around and face the audience. Then, he’ll leave the stage. If the applause continues, the conductor may return to the stage to bow and may also invite certain members of the orchestra to stand up and bow. E
