BBC forced to make musicians keep volume down to comply with an EU safety directive

The BBC has been forced to make musicians keep the volume down to comply with an EU safety directive to ensure performers are not exposed to excessive levels of noise. EU noise control officers have been monitoring rehearsals to ensure orchestras keep below 140 decibels. They are demanding that performers ease off on extra-loud crescendos during the Proms concerts series to protect their hearing.

Proms is short for promenade concerts, a term which arose from the original practice of audience members promenading, or strolling, in some areas of the concert hall during the recital.

Under an EU directive, passed in April this year, the BBC is responsible for making sure performers are not exposed to excessive levels of noise.

"If they go over this danger level we have to ask them to play more quietly," a spokesman was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph newspaper today.

The health and safety police has forced the corporation to erect screens between the musicians and hand out earplugs to make sure performers are not exposed to excessive noise, the report said.

The world service has also had to transport musicians to larger rehearsal spaces so that the two-month long programme at the Royal Albert Hall in London meets European standards. This years programme, which runs from July 18 to September 13, is the biggest classical music festival in the world.

The Proms, which were founded in 1895, now comprise more than 70 concerts in the Albert Hall, a series of eight chamber concerts and four Saturday matinees at Cadogan Hall, additional Proms in the Park events across the UK on the last night, and associated educational and childrens events.

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