In a “review” by Lawrence Johnson, he ranted about the use of the Jumbotrons at the Ravinia festival. OK I can see that there might be some who want the “traditional” experience, but the setting is far from traditional in the concert going sense, accessibility is something that needs to be taken into consideration and he actually has a solution to his problem and doesn’t even realize it…….
Firstly if you look at the picture (bigger here in the “review”), it is obvious for many of the rows down front, and by virtue of the fact that the screens are off to the sides, the audience members can’t actually see the screen unless they virtually detach a vertebrae to crane their necks. That’s because, it’s for the benefit of those SITTING TOO FAR BACK TO SEE! HELLO!!!!!!!!
Here’s a funny quote from the “review” (bold is my emphasis):
Unfortunately, the superb live performances were largely pushed into the background by the Ravinia Festival’s simultaneous video transmission. In a grievously misguided attempt to broaden the classical concert experience, Ravinia has installed two 15 x 20-foot screens on either side of the stage, where simultaneous video transmissions are projected a la pop events and Andrea Bocelli stadium concerts. The video projections, used for one weekend last year and inaugurated in June as a permanent fixture, will be standard for all of this summer’s pavilion performances, including all classical and CSO concerts, a Ravinia spokeswoman said.
Ravinia CEO Welz Kauffman is a dynamic individual and a smart guy. But let’s not mince words. This initiative is a bad idea—a very bad idea.
On the surface it’s not a funny quote except that in the last sentence, he actually DOES mince words!
Now he actually has a solution to his disgust at trying to make a concert more accessible:
A case can be made for installing video screens on Ravinia’s lawn where picnickers cannot see the musicians inside the pavilion (though hearing the unseen performers under the stars is a large part of Ravinia’s tradition and charm). But, why in God’s name, subject everyone sitting inside—where most have a decent view of the living, breathing participants— to an enormous, intrusive video of the performance alongside the actual, clearly visible event?
Solution: Hey Lawrence, MOVE TO THE LAWN, problem solved! Looks like it’s pretty packed in there anyway so they could probably sell your seat. Even better get ye self to Grant Park! One last thing (again from the “review” and with my bold emphasis and now aside quotes added):
The bombardment of images makes attentive listening almost impossible, and encourages visual distraction. No matter how much effort one musters to concentrate on the music being played by the live performers, the dizzying slow pans, violent jump cuts, and sudden close-ups—and on Tuesday, missed camera cues and focusing on air or the wrong players—are impossible to block out…….
I don’t believe most people attend a classical concert to be assailed with unwonted visual irrelevancies (me: a visual spell check might have helped also!), like a violist’s unpressed tux, a violinist’s too-tight blouse (me: get me a ticket!) or Bronfman’s hair (me: wait has he been using Rogaine?). Tough luck for those who came to the concert just to experience the CSO, Brahms and Mendelssohn
Conlon, Ravinia’s music director, led a vigorous and lively reading of Mendelssohn’s First Symphony. Written at 15, the work has……
OK STOP RIGHT THERE. How can we trust your review if as you put it The bombardment of images makes attentive listening almost impossible (???????)
I’m up here in Lake Placid with the Sinfonietta doing concerts tonight and tomorrow night, just a terrific group and a magical place, will write about it next week, follow my tweets!
When a student in Chicago years ago, I regular attended concerts at Ravinia. The setting is GIGANTIC and as as student I could rarely afford tickets under the covered pavilion. I and my starving student friends would huddle around to periphery struggling to get a view of the action on stage.
I wholeheartedly agree that Lawrence Johnson is absolutely nuts to take such a purist stance for Ravinia. At the Met, OK this would be an insane idea, but for a park venue it is the best thing since sliced bread!
Back in the day I would have absolutely LOVED this kind of technology. Mr. Johnson needs to step off his lofty pedestal and get with the times.
You are being unfair to Mr. Johnson. There’s no reason to mock a few out-of-context phrases just because you disagree with him on the main issue. Not having attended a concert at the venue, I can’t have a firm opinion, but I think I also would have found the screens unnecessary and distracting. I go to concerts to hear music and see performers, not to watch television. If I am seated too far away to see much, so be it. Save the screens for the lawn and concerts-in-the-park.
Out of context?
You could say that about any quote that is inserted into any article, the only way you can avoid being out of context is to print the whole article, and I did link to it so that people could read the context. Anyway, my “slam” was simply a response to his “slam” of the use of screens. Like them or not it is worthy of recognition that Ravinia is attempting to improve its accessibility. I imagine a survey will be done, so if the majority like it will you still be against it?
Ron