EU calls for a quieter Proms
The BBC is being forced to make musicians play more quietly during Proms concerts and rehearsals to comply with an EU safety directive.
BBC Symphoniy Orchestra conducted by Leon Botstein at the Royal Albert Hall in LondonPhoto: IAN JONESUnder the directive which came into effect in April, the broadcaster must ensure performers are not exposed to excessive levels of noise.
Noise control officers have been sitting in on rehearsals to take volume measurements and ensure orchestras keep below 140 decibels – the noise of a gunshot of firecracker.
A spokesman said: "If they go over this danger level we have to ask them to play more quietly."
The BBC has also been forced to erect screens between the musicians and hand out earplugs to make sure performers are not exposed to excessive noise.
The corporation has also had to transport musicians to larger rehearsal spaces so that the two-month long programme at the Royal Albert Hall in London meets European standards.
Describing the changes, Terry Wogan told listeners on his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show: 'Last weekend I was privileged to be at the wonderful BBC Proms along with Roger Wright who is the controller of BBC3.
"He was telling me about the EU directives on loudness. They are going to have to tone down the loudness at the Proms because it might be affecting people's ears."
He added: 'Roger Wright told me, "I should warn you that matters are about to take a turn for the worse at the Royal Albert Hall."'
However the BBC said the changes, while time consuming and expensive, will not alter the audience's experience.
Under the directive which came into effect in April, the broadcaster must ensure performers are not exposed to excessive levels of noise.
Noise control officers have been sitting in on rehearsals to take volume measurements and ensure orchestras keep below 140 decibels – the noise of a gunshot of firecracker.
A spokesman said: "If they go over this danger level we have to ask them to play more quietly."
The BBC has also been forced to erect screens between the musicians and hand out earplugs to make sure performers are not exposed to excessive noise.
The corporation has also had to transport musicians to larger rehearsal spaces so that the two-month long programme at the Royal Albert Hall in London meets European standards.
Describing the changes, Terry Wogan told listeners on his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show: 'Last weekend I was privileged to be at the wonderful BBC Proms along with Roger Wright who is the controller of BBC3.
"He was telling me about the EU directives on loudness. They are going to have to tone down the loudness at the Proms because it might be affecting people's ears."
He added: 'Roger Wright told me, "I should warn you that matters are about to take a turn for the worse at the Royal Albert Hall."'
However the BBC said the changes, while time consuming and expensive, will not alter the audience's experience.
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Have they really nothing better to do with their time then have another go at we English? To think that we pay these twits huge sums and get little of any value, only pathetic interference.
Maybe it's time we filled in the tunnel?
It is time we sacked all these clip board men. They are changing the world for the worse. The EU is nothing but a pain in the ****.
Just another English thing the E U wants to ruin. It is about time they were told to get on their high horses and GO AWAY. How many people have gone deaf becuase of the Proms???? I suspect the answer is none.
Are these noise monitoring non-job (but very well paid) jerks attending each and every noise (sorry, music) perforamce of pop junk noise. I am sure not, for that would be to infringe 'their' rights,particularly as there is a large non-white participation. Never mind those forced to listen to the junk music and crap words of say the recent so called carnival in west London.
Leave the Proms alone and lets get out of the EU which has few benefits for true English - and anything supported by the pair, that can be classified as liars, thieves and cheats, otherwise B&B, and their cohort of fellow communistic travellers. Why do we suck-up to the large number of politicians in those countries who are the successors of those who lead their countries to kowtow to supine collapse in 1939 to 1945 and have followed similar course ever since.
Two things:
1. I�m not sure that the author of this piece, and those that have made comments here know how loud 140dB actually is. Amplified concerts (i.e. the loudest rock shows or night clubs) have a cap of 130dB, which in itself leads to tinnitus and distortion of the music. If it was up over 140dB it would be unbearably painful just to sit there and listen, and I�d be surprised if anyone in an audience would put up with it.
2. These levels (and protection) are for the performers in the pit, not the audience. If this means that they are made aware of their working conditions, and are therefore able to prolong their careers, then surely that�s for the better.
The only reason to advocate painfully loud music at the proms would be if it were to drown out the braying voices from the stalls on the Last Night.
Two things:
1. I�m not sure that the author of this piece, and those that have made comments here know how loud 140dB actually is. Amplified concerts (i.e. the loudest rock shows or night clubs) have a cap of 130dB, which in itself leads to tinnitus and distortion of the music. If it was up over 140dB it would be unbearably painful just to sit there and listen, and I�d be surprised if anyone in an audience would put up with it.
2. These levels (and protection) are for the performers in the pit, not the audience. If this means that they are made aware of their working conditions, and are therefore able to prolong their careers, then surely that�s for the better.
The only reason to advocate painfully loud music at the proms would be if it were to drown out the braying voices from the stalls on the Last Night.
Two things:
1. I�m not sure that the author of this piece, and those that have made comments here know how loud 140dB actually is. Amplified concerts (i.e. the loudest rock shows or night clubs) have a cap of 130dB, which in itself leads to tinnitus and distortion of the music. If it was up over 140dB it would be unbearably painful just to sit there and listen, and I�d be surprised if anyone in an audience would put up with it.
2. These levels (and protection) are for the performers in the pit, not the audience. If this means that they are made aware of their working conditions, and are therefore able to prolong their careers, then surely that�s for the better.
The only reason to advocate painfully loud music at the proms would be if it were to drown out the braying voices from the stalls on the Last Night.
Just how much is a noise control officer paid, it's just one of those council 'non-jobs' that seem to abound.
Bang goes the 1812 Overture too then ?
Whatever next. Safety saving lives in a broken boat now this. What else can the hobgoblins of the EU take away from the UK. The royal family I guess they would love, and any other pageantry that we lead the world in.
It is about time we told those meddling jobsworths in the E.U to bugger off.
I suppose that, next year, we will have to listen to concerts of complete silence just to satisfy the idiots in Brussels. If only they would be silent