Opera house orchestra ‘damaged musician’s hearing’
A VIOLA player’s hearing was irreparably damaged by loud music during rehearsals at the Royal Opera House, the High Court has ruled.
Christopher Goldscheider claimed he was exposed to unacceptable noise levels in the pit at the Covent Garden opera house in 2012.
The 45-year-old, from Bedfordshire, said he suffered “acoustic shock”, a condition with symptoms including tinnitus, hyperacusis and dizziness, and became unwell after sitting in front of an 18-strong brass section during rehearsals for a performance of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
Yesterday, Mrs Justice Nicola Davies ruled in his favour on the issues of breach of duty and causation of injury, with damages to be assessed.
She refused the Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation permission to appeal, although it can still apply directly to the Court of Appeal.
The landmark case could have repercussions for orchestras across the UK. Mr Goldscheider, whose claim for lost earnings alone is almost £750,000, said he had to give up playing and even listening to music.
Theo Huckle QC, his counsel, said the effects of the injury, including hypersensitivity to noise, had “seriously diminished his life in all significant respects”. Mr Goldscheider, he added, was exposed to an average noise level of 91 decibels over a three-hour period and, despite ear plugs, that gave rise to a “substantial risk of injury”.
David Platt QC said the opera house had gone “as far and, if anything, further than the reasonable employer” to reduce noise levels.
A foundation spokesman said the judgment had “potentially far-reaching implications”. The spokesman said: “The Royal Opera House is surprised and disappointed by the judgment.
“The expert medical advice we had consistently received is that long-term hearing damage of this type could not be caused by an isolated incident of exposure to live music.
“We will consider carefully whether to appeal the judgment.”
Mr Goldscheider told the BBC: “With this condition if you are exposed to normal sounds, unfortunately they become incredibly painful.”