“BEING punched in the back of the neck with a blunt instrument.” That’s how
William Morton, a retired flautist with the Royal Opera House orchestra in
London, describes the blast of sound that assaults the senses of musicians
performing in the confined spaces of an orchestra pit.
Musicians in these claustrophobic dug-outs can struggle to hear themselves
play, particularly if they’re seated in front of the brass or percussion
sections. This can cause a snowball effect as performers compete. “You start
playing louder to hear yourself and it quickly becomes a cacophony in the pit,”
says Morton.
This not only…
