Experiencing Orchestral Performances in a Pandemic

Attending a Concert in the Midst of Covid-19

My last attendance at an orchestral performance was in November 2020, shortly after local orchestras began limited, socially distanced performances following the initial lockdown. This was two months after Governor DeSantis had lifted all official statewide restrictions. The experience was surreal.

Arriving at the Venue

That evening, I was excited to support the arts and friends in the orchestra, and to listen to a rare performance of an Arensky string quartet composed for two cellos. My wife and I had arranged for child care and were ready for our date night. As we arrived at the venue, we donned our black surgical masks, a requirement for entry. The black color seemed fitting for the occasion and mirrored the attire typically worn by orchestral musicians during performances. Our temperatures were taken at the door and we were guided by a masked usher along a one-way, yellow-taped path to the performance hall and our seats.

The Seating Arrangement

The hall was configured with four rows of seats, spaced out with paper “X’s” marking the seats deemed unsafe due to Covid-19. The masked usher led us to our unmarked seats. When I asked about the location of the restroom, the usher pointed in the direction but began to explain the one-way aisle system. I decided to head in the direction indicated without further discussion.

An Uncomfortable Incident

An elderly couple was seated next to us, at a distance of about twelve feet. The woman, struggling to see the stage over the couple in front of her, moved to a different seat, removing the paper "X" and placing it on her previous seat. This violation of the rules prompted the usher to intervene, forcing the woman to return to her original seat. The couple then switched seats. This incident cast a shadow over the rest of the evening for me, and I found myself no longer wanting to be at the performance. However, unsure of my wife's feelings on the matter, we stayed until the end.

Post-Concert Dinner

After the concert, we went out for dinner at a restaurant where there were no masks, no social distancing, just a normal dining experience. My wife brought up the incident with the usher and the elderly couple, expressing her view that it was absurd. We laughed about it, but I decided that I would not be attending an orchestral performance in the near future.

Continued Restrictions

Despite the absence of state-mandated restrictions in Florida, the rules at orchestral performances only became stricter. Masking and social distancing persisted until late 2023, and the introduction of vaccines led to segregation and the exclusion of those who were not vaccinated. What were once enjoyable evenings filled with the beauty and complexity of human creativity turned into a dystopian spectacle of rule enforcement and coerced compliance.

A Mother's Day Performance

On Mother's Day, my wife bought tickets for our family to attend a small classical music ensemble's Paris-themed event, a nod to our recent family vacation to Paris and the Netherlands. Despite my reservations, I couldn't refuse on Mother's Day, and the idea was unique. The performance featured a solo violin and a soprano singing excerpts from Franz Kafka’s diary, set against the violin in a composition by György Kurtág titled Kafka Fragments. The audience was small, with only one person wearing a mask.

A Different Experience

This time, instead of enforcing mask-wearing and temperature checks, the ushers noticed our less-than-ideal seats and upgraded us to the orchestra box directly in front of the stage. The audience was sparse, perhaps due to the obscure nature of the piece rather than fear of disease. The seat upgrade was a courtesy not extended to the elderly couple at the previous concert.

Reflections on the Performance

The composition was as one might expect from an author whose famous work, The Metamorphosis, begins with the protagonist waking to find himself transformed into a monstrous insect. Kafka's story reflects the isolation of lockdown, with the protagonist's transformation leading to financial instability and his eventual abandonment by his family. My ten-year-old son, a piano player, commented during the performance that his friend's rendition of Billy Joel’s "Piano Man" would be more entertaining than the Kafkaesque fragments of screeching violin and long, drawn-out soprano words about life's misery and humanity's vermin-like nature.

The Power of a Melody

What my son didn't realize is that "Piano Man" is also a song about life's melancholy and misery, and how a simple melody can impact that. Sometimes, we just crave a melody, one that makes us feel alright.

Closing Thoughts

These experiences highlight the stark contrast between the strict regulations at orchestral performances and the normalcy of other aspects of life during the pandemic. It raises questions about the necessity and impact of such measures. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the restrictions were necessary or did they detract from the enjoyment of the performances? Share this article with your friends and let us know your thoughts. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.