WOTE’s (as-Fun-as-a-Fact-Can-Be) Fact of the Day*

Back in the day, the audience sometimes participated in classical concerts. Once, when Franz Liszt was beginning a performance of the "Kreutzer" Sonata, listeners began calling out "Robert le Diable!" -- meaning that they wished to hear instead Liszt's fantasy on themes from the Meyerbeer opera. Liszt acceded to the demand and launched into his "Robert" fantasy.

Then he did "Freebird."


(As-Fun-as-a-Fact-Can-Be) Fact courtesy of:

"Why So Serious?" by Alex Ross, from The New Yorker


* Sort of like Harper’s Index, but even more funner.