The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles is known for its stunning architecture and world-class acoustics. But on Friday night, it was the sound of a woman allegedly having an orgasm during Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony that had people talking.
Molly Grant, who was seated near the person who made the noise, told The LA Times that she heard what she described as a “scream/moan” erupt from the balcony. “Everyone kind of turned to see what was happening,” said Grant. “I saw the girl after it had happened, and I assume that she … had an orgasm because she was heavily breathing, and her partner was smiling and looking at her — like in an effort to not shame her.”
Multiple Reports of Moaning Noise
Composer and music producer Magnus Fiennes also reported hearing the moaning noise during the symphony’s second movement. He described it on Twitter as that of a person having a “loud and full body orgasm.” An alleged audio recording of the moment was making the rounds on social media.
Orchestra Plays Through Disturbance
Despite the disturbance, attendees said that the musicians played through without stopping. Classical pianist Sharon Su tweeted that she “checked with someone who works at the LA Phil and they confirmed” that the orchestra continued playing through the commotion.
Unclear What Occurred in Audience
It is still unclear what exactly occurred in the audience. Some attendees disputed the orgasm theory, offering that the woman could have made the noise while waking after having fallen asleep. One attendee who was seated behind the person who made the noise said it appeared as if the woman was waking up from a sleep attack when she made the sound.
No Comment from L.A. Phil
The Times has contacted the L.A. Phil for comment but has not been able to identify or contact the person who made the sound.
Friday’s program, led by conductor Elim Chan, also included a performance of Thomas Adès’ “Concentric Paths” Violin Concerto. The L.A. Phil’s online program notes include this description of the second movement of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5: “The … luscious main theme was adapted for a popular love song; Tchaikovsky’s skillful orchestration, however, lifts the mood from sentimentality to high Romanticism. The movement’s principal melody is presented in a memorable solo by the horn, followed by other appealing woodwind solos.”
No one so far has mentioned the possibility that the woman might have had a remote-controlled vibrator in her panties during the concert.
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