at the concert vs in the concert vs in concert

[ostap77]

Abaka slightly touched on this question in one of the previous posts. So if I'm a spectator I would findmyself at the concert. But I go to hear a musician in concert. What about the following sentence " Student performers should sit in the audience when they are not performing in the concert."? What's the difference between "in concert" and "in the concert"?

 

[billmcd]

Abaka slightly touched on this question in one of the previous posts. So if I'm a spectator I would findmyself at the concert. But I go hera a musician in concert. What about the following sentence " Student performers should sit in the audience when they are not performing in the concert."? What's the difference between "in concert" and "in the concert"?

In the context you presented, "in the concert" would suggest that if one or more of the student performers were not participating in the concert at that moment, he/she/they should sit with the audience. Whereas, the use of "in concert" could suggest that if any of the performers were not participating as a group i.e. not as an individual, they should sit with the audience. However, I think the use of "in the concert" would, in the context you presented, include both situations and the performers would understand the instruction.

 

[ostap77]

So I should say "I'm going to go hear them in concert." but "I'm going to go hear him in the concert."? If I said "I'm going to go hear him in concert.", would it be a mistake?

 

[bhaisahab]

So I should say "I'm going to go hear them in concert." but "I'm going to go hear him in the concert."? If I said "I'm going to go hear him in concert.", would it be a mistake?

"I am going to hear him in concert" is common enough.

 

[ostap77]

So there would not be any difference between "I..........in concert." and "I...........in the concert."?

 

[bhaisahab]

So there would not be any difference between "I..........in concert." and "I...........in the concert."?

If he is a solo performer you can "hear him in concert", this is commonly used. If he is taking part in a concert with others, you can "hear him in the concert".

 

[ostap77]

What about this "I went to hear them in concert."? In this sentence "them" would be refered to as a band (single performer)?

 

[billmcd]

So I should say "I'm going to go hear them in concert." but "I'm going to go hear him in the concert."? If I said "I'm going to go hear him in concert.", would it be a mistake?

I'm not sure where this thread is going, but in AmE you would typically hear "I am going to hear him/her/them in 'a' (or 'the') concert i.e. a musicalperformance and always with an article. To use concert without an article would be to use concert meaning together/in agreement and not to mean a performance. "The council was in concert on the plan to improve the neighborhood."

 

[ostap77]

Here's the definition from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary and it only gives "in concert" not "in the concert". As opposed to what bhaishab said in post #6 it refers to many performers not a solo performer. "
2 : performing at a concert
▪ I went to hear them in concert. [=in a public performance]

Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary


"They're in concert at Madison Square Garden."

concert - Definition and pronunciation | Oxford Advanced American Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

 

[bhaisahab]

As opposed to what bhaishab said in post #6 it refers to many performers not a solo performer. "

I'm not sure if you are deliberately misinterpreting what I said but, for clarity, below is my understanding of the question.
"I saw him in concert." One solo performer.
"I saw them in concert." A group or ensemble of performers.
"I saw him in the concert." One solo performer performing for part of a concert which involved other solo or group performances.

 

[Barb_D]

And that's my experience in American use too.

I saw him in concert - I saw him in a live musical performance.