In Reply to: Do you audition classical recordings blind? posted by Analog Scott on November 17, 2014 at 08:26:06:
I'm not sure the percentage difference in the study is all THAT significant, but it's worthwhile recalling why blind auditions started in the first place: it was to level the playing field between what had until then been an "old boys' club" in the symphony orchestra and the number of equally or more qualified women and/or minorities. And there's no doubt that this practice has succeeded brilliantly over the decades - just look at the make-up of most orchestras now (VPO excepted!) vs. the way it was in the past. That's something I think we can be proud of as a society.
I don't deny the contention of your linked article that there IS a visual element to performing (otherwise, why are so many listeners offended by Bang Bang?), but, by and large, I agree with another post I saw somewhere, which stated: if you can't tell the difference with blindfolds on, then STFU!
BTW, as a side note on the subject of screened auditions for orchestras, I remember my piano teacher, who was a friend of Josef Krips, telling me how displeased the old-school Krips was when the SF Symphony instituted the screened audition process and so many of the audition winners turned out to be women! ;-)
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Follow Ups
- RE: Do you audition classical recordings blind? - Chris from Lafayette 10:13:24 11/17/14 (0)