Chinese singer halts concert over audience manners

A Chinese singer halted his solo concert here as the audience continued to chat, click photographs and incessantly used mobile phones.

Twentyseven-year-old Shen Yang, who is a singer at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, stopped the concert at the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival Friday, reported the Shanghai Daily.

Officials said more effective methods will be devised to “educate” audiences.

The singer’s performance was repeatedly interrupted by talkative audience members chatting and ringing of cell phones.

Shen stopped during the second half and told the audience not to take photographs, the media report said.

Wu Peng, an official at the theatre where the performance was taking place, said it may take a long time to cultivate Chinese audience etiquette.

“Any annoyance can ruin the musician’s mood and impact on the show. Chinese audiences should learn to respect musicians and art,” Wen was quoted as saying.

Anne-Sophie Mutter, a German violinist, had halted a solo recital in Shanghai in 2006 as her photographs were being clicked.