When music provokes utter silence

Critic Ann Powers considers musical performances that have left audiences stunned in utter silence, and what you can hear when sound falls away.

Mar 13, 2025 - 17:02
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When music provokes utter silence
Extended silence during a concert often feels like a gift an audience grants a beloved artist, like Barbra Streisand, whose devotees at one show sat in almost unbearable anticipation to hear her sing.

Critic Ann Powers considers musical performances that have left audiences stunned in utter silence, and what you can hear when sound falls away.

(Image credit: Jeff Fusco)