“Of course they need to fix the acoustics. And the architects and designers planning the coming gut renovation of David Geffen Hall must also make weighty decisions about a host of questions,” writes Michael Cooper in Thursday’s (9/8) New York Times. “But what about the little things that can make all the difference when it comes to creating a concert hall that people will fall in love with? … I have a few modest proposals…. Perhaps the Geffen Hall designers could fetch … some comfy chairs. (Plush, but not too plush: Few things are more distracting at a concert than snores.) … How about a little more space between the rows of seats? Restrooms. Lots of them. Especially for women…. How about locker rooms … for people to stow their bags and coats? … Risers. If you are lucky enough to score floor seats to see a great orchestra, it would be nice to be able to see that orchestra…. People could tell which woodwind player was actually creating that eerie effect…. If [the Philharmonic’s popular film-with-orchestra] programs are going to continue in the future, the orchestra should think about investing in a bigger screen—would Imax be possible?”
Posted September 9, 2016
