Tenor halts Birmingham performance over crowd’s phone use

Mr Bostridge said he was not aware of the policy when he stopped the concert and added his actions were not intended to make “a protest of any sort”.

But since learning about the new rules, he said he hoped that the CBSO would change its mind.

In the orchestra’s vision statement, it states that any “perceived ‘rules’ of a traditional concert” are removed, with audiences also invited to clap whenever they like.

“We are doing these things because we believe that the best music in the world should be for everyone,” the vision statement adds.

Mr Bostridge said of performance: “You’re doing something that’s very difficult and also you’re trying to project a lot of emotion through music.

“We do have an issue with attracting new audiences but I don’t think this is the way to go.”