Chicago gets tough with audience
NewsMessage from Symphony Hall:
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association is committed to creating a comfortable, enjoyable and safe environment for its musicians, patrons and staff.
In compliance with the City of Chicago vaccine requirements, patrons 5 years of age and older are required to provide proof of full vaccination, and those 16 years of age or older also need to provide a valid photo ID. All patrons also must wear a face mask throughout their visit.
About time and way behind NYC on this
Good for them. BTW, it’s Orchestra Hall or Symphony Center (I always liked the former term better).
Correct. Technically, performances take place in Orchestra Hall, which is situated within Symphony Center, the larger complex with administrative offices, facilities for the musicians, etc. The first concert in Orchestra Hall took place on December 14, 1904, with founding music director Theodore Thomas conducting. The first music performed was “Hail, Bright Abode” from Tannhäuser (You Tube link is a performance of this).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB-P6lqP76k
Way to go Alexander, be tough with your audience. Just don’t interfere with Muti “special activities”. And don’t ask him to wear a mask. Brava!
you obviously don’t know your italian…
Dear Mr. Rat,
I don’t know who you are, but you don’t always have all your facts straight. Our protocols from last fall were that conductors arriving from Chicago from outside the US had to wear a mask during all rehearsals and concerts until they got a negative PCR test which was taken three days after arriving in Chicago. After that test, they were allowed to conduct the orchestra without wearing a mask. Muti chose to not wear a mask. The vaccinated members of the orchestra were also allowed to play the concerts without wearing a mask. Even though I’m vaccinated and boosted, I never once took my mask off, but that’s just me.
Starting this week, and including Maestro Muti who begins his three week residency next week, after a negative PCR test, the conductor will take a rapid antigen test daily and may conduct rehearsals and concerts without wearing a mask, if their daily test is negative. Also starting this week, all winds and brass will also take a daily antigen test. All strings and percussion players will be required to wear an N95 or KN95 mask on the stage at all times.
I have my facts straight. During his last residency, Muti did not wear a mask at Symphony Center ever, for any activity, with only a few exceptions. For example, Alexander personally begged him to wear a mask in the special occasion of Mayor Lightfoot visit, in order not to insult and irritate the Mayor by showing visible defiance to city regulations.
Muti consider himself special, not bound by mask regulations or other norms, as his other “special activities” demonstrate.
But you know all of this already.
True.
Novak Muti, evidently.
I taught here at Westminster Choir College for forty years. In the time Muti was conductor in Philly, he was often here. If the “special activities” you so respectfully refer to are what I think they are, I say, well—I can’t say that. I’ll say that he was the most loving, humane, respectful person anyone would wish to meet. I’m tired of this smug, insider attitude some people develop after they learn that the trumpet is a transposing instrument.
There is nothing new about this. This rule has been in effect since last spring.
What is new is that 72 hour Covid testing is no longer acceptable on its own – one must show proof of vaccination along with photo ID to enter Symphony Center. This is as it should be! Bravo to Jeff Alexander!!
That’s alright, there’s nothing new about Spring either. It was around the year before too.
No, the vaccine mandate is new. Until now it was either a vaccine mandate or a very recent negative test.
No criminal record yet required ? What about potential terrorists who could blow up the hall and kill all patrons and artists ? ( it is strange how terrorism has been totally eclipsed since the appearance of the virus , I can only suppose that it scares them or even better , killed most of them already …)
just a wee bit unhinged there, Friend.
Good. No problem with this. Only overgrown children have a problem with it.
My fly on the wall informs me that a hidden addendum is the plan, to strap every audience member on their seat, to make sure they won’t move too closely to other audience members. But it may be just a rumor.
I also heard a rumor that washed up composers of no merit would be barred from the halls. Just sayin’.
I’ve stirred the pot on SD a few times over the years. But damn, your reply has sociopath written all over it…simply uncalled for.
That is relatively tame compared to Berlin. Since last August vaccination certificates (jabbed twice or 3 times) are needed for the Philharmonie, Konzerthaus, and the 3 opera houses. Must be masked the entire time inside the building unless one is eating or drinking. Since Omicron appeared, one needs a same day negative quick test certificate as well. I have not seen anyone throwing a tantrum because of these measures.
From last spring’s concerts CSO has required either vax or negative covid test. Now a covid test is not an option.
A vaccine that does nothing to inoculate a recipient or prevent one who is fully vaxxed from spreading COVID – much less masks which harbor germs unless thrown out daily (and must not be touched). But I’m sure this rule is coming from an egalitarian “it’s for your own good” place…
Ah thanks for your latest uninformed comments on COVID. First, your last comment that infections in the US were waning proved typically prescient; in the intervening week they went from ~ 200K to 600K. Second, the COVID vaccine, like all vaccines, prevents hospitalization and death. Getting infected is a function of your neutralizing Ab titer vs. the titer of virus you encounter. Thanks to morons who refuse to get vaccinated the titer of virus in society is orders of magnitude higher than it would be if we had reached ~ 90% vaccination rate. Third, your comment on masks, assuming they are KN95 is equally uninformed. They should be replaced ~ every 5 days unless you handle them carelessly; that’s why they have elastic straps but perhaps you need written instructions with detailed pictures. Last, never use the word egalitarian when it contradicts everything you communicate.
Your statements are not really correct. Shame on you for spreading false information.
To set the record straight, the policy for the audience here since concerts resumed in September has been to be fully vaccinated or to present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of concert time. Very thoughtful and identical to not all but many other major U.S. orchestras. As of January 3, the City of Chicago is requiring performance venues (plus restaurants, bars and gyms) to eliminate the test-out option.
I believe the ID requirement is new. Nobody in the CSO administration decided to “get tough” on their own, as far as I know; they are just in accordance with the city’s new requirements. The musicians, vaccinated or not, are now required to be tested weekly (wind and brass players, who play unmasked, are tested daily). A sensible reaction to omicron, in my view.
Why weren’t they already doing this?
Makes so much sense. Let’s set up even more obstacles to people attending a classical music event. Make it harder, more inconvenient, uncomfortable and more restrictive. That’ll get more people in the seats. After all, the audience for classical music is only growing, isn’t it?
Without these protocols our audience will die off anyway. At least we will put up a fight and attempt to ward off the virus. GET THE SHOTS, folks!!!
Good.
Not as tough as LA Phil. All audience members coming to Disney Hall have to be fully vaccinated AND have a booster (if eligible) to attend a concert, and wear a facemask.
So it is in Philadelphia. You must have proof of vaccination and photo I D in order to enter Kimmel Center and then Verizon Hall.
Get tough! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9f5aVd-A2A
Pouah!
As if you need to disgust more kids with the classical music experience
Yes. Let them go and infect people or get infected and they’ll love classical music for sure.
Bravo!
Cleveland Orchestra now defines “fully vaccinated” as including a booster at least two weeks before a performance. Audience members must provide proof of this along with a photo ID. If not boostered, the double-vaccinated attendees must provide a negative, lab-certified antigen test result within 24 hours of the performance, or a negative PCR result 72 hours before admission to the building. Attendees must wear masks; I don’t know what the masking requirements are for the musicians.
Seems like a cheap baby sitting option for Chicago residents now that the schools are closed due to the teachers union.
For the price of a student rush ticket, you can drop your vaccinated kid off at Orchestra Hall, go over to the Exchequer for drinks and pizza (and a break from the kids), pick them up 3 hours later, and go home.
In the meantime, the kids get to hear Mozart which will make them smarter when they go back to school (whenever that will be).
I’m sick of the Big Brother shit from city hall. I will no longer support CSO.
That’s rather silly
So by that logic, I assume you don’t wear seatbelts in your car? Or you smoke in planes and movie theaters? All very “big brother.”
Sounds like the best way to handle our current situation to me. I live in Chicago and would not go to a concert without these precautions at the present time.
NYC has been doing this since late last summer. Don’t even think about walking into a concert hall or theatre without proof of vaccination, you won’t be allowed entry.
Sounds reasonable. Here in Denver, the symphony and Friends of Chamber Music require vaccination proof, photo ID, and temperature scan. I’m hoping they will go to a fully vaccinated requirement.
When attending the recent CSO performance of Handel’s Messiah, I was bemused at the sight of the chorus singing through masks. I thought it sounded OK though.