As a semi-professional orchestral player, this is important. Many orchestras now use plexiglass sheets between trumpets and woodwinds, percussion and strings, etc. Helps some. Orchestras with big stages can physically separate players enough that it's not a problem. Also, what causes hearing damage is constant LOUD playing and listening. Most classical music isn't like that. There are periods of relative calm interrupted by moments of overwhelming loudness. I'm in my 50's and have no hearing damage or loss, other than that of a normal aging process. When I play percussion, I almost always use ear plugs, as bass drum and cymbal transients are worrying. The absolute worst thing I ever have to play is the Anvil Chorus from Verdi'r Il Trovatore -- very painful. We always try to move the damnable things as far from everyone else as possible.
So, yes the EU group is wrong in doing this. It lowers great music to the level of Muzak. Rock concerts are much more worrisome.
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