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Musician sues orchestra because the Wagner was too loud
Topic Started: Apr 2 2016, 09:55 AM (171 Views)
George K
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Finally
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35938704

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A renowned viola player is suing the Royal Opera House for ruining his hearing and his career during rehearsals of Wagner's Die Walker.

Chris Goldscheider claims his hearing was irreversibly damaged by brass instruments put immediately behind him.

The Musicians' Union says hearing damage is a major problem for musicians playing in orchestras.

The Royal Opera House denies it is responsible, but around a quarter of its players suffer hearing illnesses.

In court documents seen by the BBC, Goldscheider claims that in 2012 his hearing was "irreversibly damaged" during rehearsals of Richard Wagner's thunderous Die Walkure "from brass instruments placed immediately behind him" in the famous "pit" at the Royal Opera House.

The sound peaked at around 137 decibels, which is roughly the sound of a jet engine. The court documents say the noise "created an immediate and permanent traumatic threshold shift".
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- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

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Copper
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Shortstop
George K
Apr 2 2016, 09:55 AM
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35938704

Quote:
 
The Musicians' Union says hearing damage is a major problem for musicians playing in orchestras.

I'm surprised that the union would listen to a complaint like this.
The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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Luke's Dad
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Copper
Apr 2 2016, 12:45 PM
George K
Apr 2 2016, 09:55 AM
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35938704

Quote:
 
The Musicians' Union says hearing damage is a major problem for musicians playing in orchestras.

I'm surprised that the union would listen to a complaint like this.
I see what you did there.
The problem with having an open mind is that people keep trying to put things in it.
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George K
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Finally
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43571144?SThisFB

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A viola player who suffered a life-changing hearing injury at a rehearsal of Wagner's Die Walkure in 2012 has won a landmark High Court judgment against the Royal Opera House (ROH).

The case won by Chris Goldscheider has huge implications for the industry and the health and safety of musicians.

It is the first time a judge has scrutinised the music industry's legal obligations towards musicians' hearing.

The ROH said it was "surprised and disappointed" by the judgment.

It is also the first time 'acoustic shock' has been recognised as a condition which can be compensated by a court.

On 1 September 2012, Mr Goldscheider was seated directly in front of the brass section of the orchestra for a rehearsal of Wagner's thunderous opera Die Walkure in the famous orchestra pit at the Royal Opera House.

During that rehearsal, the noise levels exceeded 130 decibels, roughly equivalent to that of a jet engine. His hearing was irreversibly damaged.

Mr Goldscheider claimed damages for acoustic shock, a condition with symptoms including tinnitus, hyperacusis and dizziness.

He told the BBC: "With this condition if you are exposed to normal sounds, unfortunately they become incredibly painful.

"I suppose the nearest analogy is if you imagine for a normal person to walk on normal ground and then you imagine walking barefoot on glass."

Mr Goldscheider, from Bedfordshire, has to wear ear defenders to carry out everyday household tasks such as preparing food.

Especially upsetting is that he had been unable to listen to his 18-year-old son Ben - one of the country's outstanding young French horn players.

The Royal Opera House argued that acoustic shock does not exist, and that if it did, Mr Goldscheider did not have it.

Their case was that he had developed an entirely natural hearing condition, known as Meniere's disease, at exactly the same time as the super-loud, high intensity noise burst behind his right ear.

However, Mrs Justice Nicola Davies took a different view, stating: "I regard the defendant's contention that Meniere's disease developed at the rehearsal as stretching the concept of coincidence too far."

The ROH also argued a balance had to be struck between preserving the artistic integrity of the music while doing everything possible to reduce the risk of damage to musicians' hearing, that was an inevitable feature of playing long-term in an orchestra.

Mrs Justice Davies disagreed, ruling that "the reliance upon artistic value implies that statutory health and safety requirements must cede to the needs and wishes of the artistic output of the Opera company, its managers and conductors.

"Such a stance is unacceptable. Musicians are entitled to the protection of the law, as is any other worker."

Reacting to the ruling, Mr Goldscheider said: "As you can imagine a law suit of this magnitude takes its strain on everyone. Not just on me but my family, my children.

"Here we are today and I'm just so overjoyed at the judge's decision and I hope it will prevent any more musicians being injured from today onwards."


Speaking of the impact of the decision, Mr Goldscheider's solicitor, Chris Fry of Fry Law, said: "This case has huge significance and will send shockwaves across the music business.

A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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Klaus
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HOLY CARP!!!
Better buy tickets for a performance of the 1812 Overture now before it is verboten.
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Davis
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Fulla-Carp
People with shotguns know to protect their ears. I’m quite sure there is a problem, surprised it is just surfacing now.
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George K
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Finally
Davis
Mar 28 2018, 03:24 PM
People with shotguns know to protect their ears. I’m quite sure there is a problem, surprised it is just surfacing now.
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noise levels exceeded 130 decibels
I found that amazing. :hair:
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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Axtremus
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HOLY CARP!!!
Like concussion induced brain damages suffered by professional American football players, orchestral musicians have their occupational health risks too.
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Luke's Dad
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Emperor Pengin
Davis
Mar 28 2018, 03:24 PM
People with shotguns know to protect their ears. I’m quite sure there is a problem, surprised it is just surfacing now.
There's not much you can do. You can't keep putting ear plugs in every time you go to FFF and pop them out every time you drop to mp.
The problem with having an open mind is that people keep trying to put things in it.
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