BassDad

Interesting that you should pick Mahler 1, which was roundly booed at its premiere by an audience that, by definition, had never heard (let alone played) it before. Different times, different tastes, different customs, I suppose.

I think it is certainly true that the level of experience of audience members varies widely and that artists and concert producers forget that at their peril. Heartfelt appreciation is always welcome. It becomes a little suspect, though, when the appreciation is entirely out of proportion to what is deserved.