In a December post at Senza Sordino, the publication of the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians, Bruce Ridge, ICSOM chairman and a bass player in the North Carolina Symphony, writes that following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, “The world again turned to music and musicians responded. Orchestras across the world dedicated their performances to the victims in France. The Metropolitan Opera performed the French national anthem ‘La Marseillaise,’ as did the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, along with so many others…. The Atlanta Symphony dedicated its performance of the Verdi Requiem to the victims in Paris…. Terrorism is designed to make us afraid, and designed to make us surrender our values in response. We must not accommodate the aims of terrorists…. As humans and musicians, here is how we can best respond. Seek out ways to show individual kindness to others…. When it is the tenth performance of the Nutcracker and we are exhausted with the repetition, look into the audience, mindful that they are arriving after seeing terrible carnage on TV…. Share your thoughts and experiences with your orchestra’s board members to make sure they understand their support for their orchestra is meaningful in their city, and meaningful in this world, perhaps now more than ever.”
Posted January 4, 2016
