In England, during this week there has been a considerable amount of press coverage of a boy, Chris Whitehead, who wore his sisters skirt to school because he objected to the stricter dress code for boys at his school.
This has emboldened me to bring up the topic of women's dress in orchestras. They frankly look a mess. Their neck lines are anything from chokers to plungers, where if you sit in the balcony one can almost see down to their naval. There are round necks, square necks and a great many other shapes. Sleeves, from no sleeves, short sleeves of many different lengths to full length.
The clothing material can be anything from sequined, lace, cotton, silk, infact almost any fabric. There are skirts of all descriptions, slim ,voluminous, long medium and short. Trousers some several inches from the ground, others just below the knee with black tights and of many designs. Shoes range from high heals to ballet and even sandals.
Given that many orchestras have as many women players as men, it is time to do something about this subject. Either men should be given the same freedom perhaps to wear bow ties, ordinary ties, cravats, no ties, t-shirts, polo neck shirts, jackets could be optional and sandals an option. The alternative is a dress code for women.
Giles wrote:
Quoteif you sit in the balcony one can almost see down to their naval.
That would certainly relieve the tedium of any Bruckner symphony ;)
Quotea dress code for women
You're a brave man Giles! What would you suggest?
p.s. I do agree.
Everyone gets completely covered in Japanese yakuza tattoos and wears only speedos and bikini briefs! :D
P.S. Did I mention the Mohawks? Mandatory Mohawk hair, so you can see the tattoos on the scalp! ::)
Oddly, I get more bothered about how the men dress. Uniform has its points but usually it's so old hat, and doesn't even fit performances with period instruments (I think I'll check on this with the OAE's CE). It's uncomfortable to play in too. I'd much prefer to see a T-shirted pianist than one drenched in sweat. And as for Vlad Jurowski – quite apart from those bedroom slippers – just what is that outfit he always conducts in?
Yes, I agree. The men and women should all dress exactly alike.
;D
I hate wearing tuxes for concerts. White tie, black tie -- horrible. I think it's time orchestras adopt outfits like NASCAR drivers wear and sell a bunch of endorsements and advertisements on their bodies. Might help the institutions stay in business. ;)
Yeah. Maybe string players can get stickers for various bow resin manufacturers to put on their instruments. ;D
Quote from: mbhaub on Sunday 22 May 2011, 20:40
I hate wearing tuxes for concerts. White tie, black tie -- horrible. I think it's time orchestras adopt outfits like NASCAR drivers wear and sell a bunch of endorsements and advertisements on their bodies. Might help the institutions stay in business. ;)
My late and much missed piano teacher Ron Meachen once commented that wearing white tie and tails made it feel "like trying to play the piano in a suit of armour!"
Quote from: Paul Barasi on Friday 20 May 2011, 20:11
Oddly, I get more bothered about how the men dress. Uniform has its points but usually it's so old hat, and doesn't even fit performances with period instruments (I think I'll check on this with the OAE's CE). It's uncomfortable to play in too. I'd much prefer to see a T-shirted pianist than one drenched in sweat.
I've just come home from a concert: the violinist Joshua Bell appeared to be wearing black silk pyjamas.
I think a tux for the men and a nice black dress for the woman would be a good easy dress code. Or is that too complicated?
Now I'm intrigued by black silk pajamas for everybody. ;D
Those of us with a significant other will know the "a nice black dress" can mean almost anything! I sing in a choir in which the men wear a black dinner jacket (tux) and the ladies have their uniform blouses provided for them, but they have to supply their own long back skirt, pearls, earings and shoes. We have a couple of big concerts coming up, so just now we are going through our six monthly furore over how long the string of pearls should be, is it one string or two, what type of earings, how black should the black skirt be and should it be above or on the ankle, what colour and style should the shoes be and how high the heels, how much lipstick, how much mascara etc.etc. etc. All of which debate is utterly pointless because, on the night they'll wear just what they want.
Could you prevail upon the ladies to all have long sleeves and skirts of the same length. I don't care if the men in a choir wear shorts as they can't be seen, it is the 'Charity Shop' mess on the front row that is irritating. Soloists excepted.
Incidently, what is the choir singing?
Judge for yourself, Giles: www.stuartsingers.com (http://www.stuartsingers.com). You might describe our repertoire as unpretentious and eclectic. For instance, the men's number next week will be a barber-shoppy arrangement of "Five foot two, eyes of blue", whilst the ladies' will be "He ain't heavy, he's my brother". We sing standards such as "Stormy Weather" but also spirituals, comedy numbers and more serious items such as Bruckner's Locus Iste and some Purcell this time. We even attempted a Raff a capella piece once, a very jolly number about Spring which most of us reckon was probably the most difficult thing we've attempted!
Can we honesty expect a top performance from an orchestra whose dress code is too hot to play well in? Who are they dressing up for anyway? I go concert for the music.
Quote from: Paul Barasi on Saturday 28 May 2011, 22:50
Can we honesty expect a top performance from an orchestra whose dress code is too hot to play well in? Who are they dressing up for anyway? I go concert for the music.
I don't care what the performers wear, but I do get annoyed by middle aged ladies who talk during the music.
Quote from: Hovite on Sunday 12 June 2011, 13:03
Quote from: Paul Barasi on Saturday 28 May 2011, 22:50
Can we honesty expect a top performance from an orchestra whose dress code is too hot to play well in? Who are they dressing up for anyway? I go concert for the music.
I don't care what the performers wear, but I do get annoyed by middle aged ladies who talk during the music.
Agreed. They should be taken out and shot. And the same goes for people of either gender or any age who talk during the music.
I once attended a concert at the Festival Hall where a woman's mobile phone rang during the performance. Instead of looking embarrassed and switching it off at once she proceeded to answer the call! Had I been sitting nearer it would have been very hard to resist the impulse to seize it from her and crush it under my shoe.
I cannot think why but it is illegal for any premises to block mobile phone signals. This even applies to prisons where prisoners are not allowed to have them. If people who attend music events are that important, they should stick to buying the CD and stay at home to await their next vital call!
Hear, hear!
QuoteI cannot think why but it is illegal for any premises to block mobile phone signals.
I didn't know that. When, some years ago, I used to attend quarterly meetings of the Executive Committee of the Order of St Lazarus at Grosvenor House, the Duke of Westminster's London offices, mobile phones could not receive signals beyond the foyer. I wonder how he got away with it.
Quote from: Gareth Vaughan on Monday 13 June 2011, 19:32
Hear, hear!
QuoteI cannot think why but it is illegal for any premises to block mobile phone signals.
I didn't know that. When, some years ago, I used to attend quarterly meetings of the Executive Committee of the Order of St Lazarus at Grosvenor House, the Duke of Westminster's London offices, mobile phones could not receive signals beyond the foyer. I wonder how he got away with it.
If one is rich enough...
Quote from: Lionel Harrsion on Monday 13 June 2011, 19:41
Quote from: Gareth Vaughan on Monday 13 June 2011, 19:32
Hear, hear!
QuoteI cannot think why but it is illegal for any premises to block mobile phone signals.
I didn't know that. When, some years ago, I used to attend quarterly meetings of the Executive Committee of the Order of St Lazarus at Grosvenor House, the Duke of Westminster's London offices, mobile phones could not receive signals beyond the foyer. I wonder how he got away with it.
If one is rich enough...
Rich may have nothing to do with it. I usually can't get a damn thing in my office, surrounded as it is with walls full of conduit, wires and the EM interference you would expect to associate with the above... :)
Those whose interest has turned from orchestra dress to audience behaviour may be concerned at the lack of progress. This could be from Stage Management Weekly, way back in 2004 –
" Audience fines nothing to sneeze at
Coughing and sweet wrapper crinkling at live performances may soon cost more than a withering look, if plans to introduce fines go ahead. The world's leading concert halls, opera houses and theatres are all set to introduce a revolution in audience behaviour management, it was revealed this week.
A specially conducted Stage Management survey has found that anti-social behaviour complaints at places of quality public entertainment have risen by 65% across the world over the last decade, with the Czech Republic, Mexico and Scotland topping the list. 'We must respond to consumer concerns at enjoyment erosion caused by people who simply don't recognise traditional standards of public behaviour and CCT is now the preferred option,' explained one opera house executive.
A panel producing a recommended scale of fines was tasked to report by last July but one of its members has now disclosed the penalty structure proposals. Persistent coughing or sneezing - $30, snoring, talking and other untoward disturbance - $50, mobile phone ringing - $100, with all fines to carry a double tariff for re-offending or performances being recorded. It is believed that introduction of the scheme is being delayed pending conclusion of negotiations between constitutional lawyers and lobbyists. A spokesperson for the rights groups said 'Fines for snoring through Wagner? In your dreams!' "
That'll be the 1 April 2004 issue, then?
Quote from: Paul Barasi on Saturday 18 June 2011, 00:06
snoring through Wagner?
I actually experienced just that quite recently: an elderly man on my left had a picnic and fell asleep during Das Rheingold.
I think people are allowed to fall asleep during Wagner opera especially Gotterdamerung. What I have noticed is that since the smoking ban in public places there is a lot less coughing. Sweet wrappers and chewing gum on the increase.
To digress, a friend who runs a pub looked forward to the smoking ban as it would put paid to blocked urinals, what was not bargained for was gum everywhere.