WQXR: Driven by a desire to modernize the image – and functionality – of orchestra garments, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra began a pilot partnership with Parsons The New School for Design last fall, aimed at studying new models for concert attire.
Marin Alsop, the music director of the Baltimore Symphony, first approached the school with the idea in 2009. “I see the orchestra evolving and changing but it’s a very slow-moving creature,” she explained. “We’re still wearing the clothes we wore 200 years ago.” At a time when orchestras are seeking a fresher identity, the conductor reasoned that garments could be “a very compelling starting point to redesign and maybe reposition the orchestra in people’s minds.”
5 comments:
I myself am a traditionalist. I think that people should still dress for a performance, whether it is a Broadway production, an opera, or a symphony. If the musicians in a symphony are no longer dressing for a performance, what's to stop the audience from coming in casual clothing? The symphony is a formal event, and the clothing the musicians wear should reflect this. While tails and gowns may not be the most comfortable clothing in the world, it's the appropriate clothing for the musicians, and has been for hundreds of years. I understand having the tails and the gowns specially designed in order to favor the musician's comfort and flexibility, but putting them in some kind of athletic uniform? It would completely change the experience of going to the symphony, and I personally think it would a change for the worse.
As Benjamin Franklin so famously said, "Moderation in all things, even moderation." So I most definitely agree that it is time to more forward in the world of concert attire. It just doesn't make sense to limit musicians' movements and maintain a sexist approach to the clothing musicians are allowed to wear when there are so many options out there that make more sense now. Why not take advantage of the materials and designs that are available? After all, current attire was developed over 200 years ago, so it makes sense that an update is long overdue for musicians across the globe.
This is a pretty cool idea. There's no reason why the standard performance attire shouldn't be updated. I realize that a symphony performance is a rather formal event, and I agree. However, formal does not necessarily mean old and stuffy. It is perfectly reasonable that the standard for formal clothing should be updated. I do agree with Jess though, that some kind of track suit that already has an informal connotation should not be used.
I fall on Emma's side of this one - the tradition and formality of the eveningwear is important to me, as is Jess' thought that the musicians provide a uniform that audience members ascribe to (i.e. if the musicians dress down, the audience will start to dress down), but if the clothing restricts movement and makes the performance uncomfortable for the musician, it's respectful to the musician to try and find a solution that maintains the prestige of the formalwear but allows for some more breathing room (in this case, literally). The incorporation of technology into the orchestra is an interesting notion, probably one that will take a major investment of time and attention by the organization's creative team to get right. Let's remember that for some of these organizations, the notion of a Pops concert is a modern innovation.
It makes sense to me that the dress code be rethought. I understand that having an image is important and quite possibly part of the art, but the focus really should be the music, and the talent of those performing it. If the talent is lessened or restricted by the clothing the musicians are forced to wear, is it really worth it? just for an image? I really don't think so there has to be a better way.
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