This was the the Czech Philharmonic’s benefit concert this weekend, played in front of an empty Rudolfinum and in accordance with Government health guidance.
Maybe all conductors should wear masks from now on.
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With a hole in the mask, it becomes pointless.
What a sheltered life you have led
@Ron Swanson — could you explain what you mean>
(P.S. I don’t mean about the sheltered life, I mean could you explain why he’s wrong. Thanks –)
Not to mention what’s coming out of the end of the bell.
Obviously not if you blow into a horn with a hood to filter the contaminated hot air.
Maybe the mask should be at the end of the tube, for all woodwinds and brass.
They missed a trick by not playing the theme from Zorro
Or at least Kylo Ren’s theme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vQJ1sIOL0o
It was a nice show. But you’d think you could have a small audience, too – with appropriate social distancing
Or straitjackets.
A promising start for live music
How useless , ridiculous and humiliating for the poor musicians who are ready to accept these inhuman conditions in order to keep their job and continue their passion
Is it more inhuman to stay at home or to make music together ? I would have been volunteer to play in such a concert. Not to save my job, not for my future, but for the present. I cried when I saw this concert, because I found it very touching and a tremendous message of hope. Congratulations to this musicians. Better to live than to complain. Yes, life for classical music world will be very difficult. But we need acts of humanity like this. Ask this musicians if they feel humiliated. I want to be the next one.
It was a benefit concert; none of them were forced to do anything.
Who thought a mask with a hole would be effective? My suggestion a few days ago of a giant drop cloth with eyeholes would have worked more plausibly.
“Maybe all conductors should wear masks from now on.”
Seriously. I had an orchestra conductor in college who buzzed while he conducted and would send out huge plumes on his most dramatic downbeats.
I wondered where he got such a preposterous affectation until I had occasion to play under the guy who had been his mentor… he buzzed and sprayed, too!
Certain speech patterns can be worse at spreading droplets than a sneeze or cough can. Ask a speech therapist.
It’s a solution, but it’s extreme. I for one would not be keen to attend a concerts with performers looking like this.
I think there are less radical solutions frankly. Berlin has just announced their 1st live concert May 1. Strings only, smaller ensembles, socially distanced. I’ll be watching that as a precedent.
One thing the Czech Phil did which is good is placing horns in the balcony. With an empty hall, social distancing by placing musicians in creative places in the hall is an excellent idea.
Rearrange Mahler for “Fernorchester” only!
Mahler 4 without any winds? Doubtful. They can space, though.
Is there specific information available about what masks in particular they are using? Sorry if I’ve overlooked it, but I’m not finding it anywhere.
http://www.hudebniobaly.cz/rousky/?order=-price&fbclid=IwAR3tR8YckMt7TqN2PQYY7MiqGDXDI9dY2xsWb7ZkyYxBJBdc99Dmm61-Nzw
Any mask with a hole in it defeats the purpose of having a mask. Just about useless in preventing the transmission and receiving of the virus.
Most masks are close to useless in preventing you getting the virus. Added to which, they: (a) give people a false sense of security leading to more reckless behaviour; (b) cause the wearer to touch their face more often.
One of the admin on FBHP censured me for posting a pic of me practising with a mask 2-3 weeks before this posting.
should The roger waters piece be boycotted
Looks more like a funeral to me 🙁
But if the conductor wore a mask, who would know who it was behind the mask? A student from the music school making a few pence/ Or the real thing? Or maybe me for a lark!
You might surround them and otherwise fence them in with a plexiglass enclosure, covered with a perforated antiviral screen. From time to time during rests the second bassoonist could spray alcohol on the screen. (Grey Goose, Absolut, Stolichnaya, your choice) An additional benefit to this environment, is forcing them to all get along, play in tune, and limit admonishments and criticism of the bassoon section, thus saving all their venom for the conductor.