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13 December 2011
Sex sells. Marketing professionals know that, which is why advertisements for everything from cars to beer regularly feature scantily clad women. We live in an age where appearance is more important than ever before; scientific studies suggest that more attractive people get better jobs and are happier.
Until recently, classical music was one of the few industries where sex is not usually used to sell the product. Performers often dress within a prescribed fashion, with men wearing dinner suits or tuxedos and women wearing full-length dresses.
However, a number of prominent musicians have recently been courting controversy for their appearance. Young Chinese pianist Yuja Wang has received as much coverage about her appearance as her performances recently, with the Los Angeles Times commenting, “Her dress [on] Tuesday was so short and tight that had there been any less of it, the Bowl might have been forced to restrict admission to any music lover under 18 not accompanied by an adult. Had her heels been any higher, walking, to say nothing of her sensitive pedaling, would have been unfeasible.”
It’s not just women pushing the envelope, though. American organist Cameron Carpenter, a soloist with this year’s NZSO National Youth Orchestra, has received a great deal of media attention for wearing white stovepipe trousers and bejewelled tops during performances. In an interview with Radio New Zealand’s Kathryn Ryan, Carpenter admitted that he regularly works out at the gym, and opined that a musician’s appearance is “extremely important”. Korean-American violinist Hahn-Bin describes himself as “Viagra to classical music”, and dresses flamboyantly, complete with heavy eyeliner and Mohawk hairstyle.
Are these performers detracting from the music that they purport to be promoting? Or, are they just expressing their individuality? Does it matter to you what performers wear? Send your feedback to anna@chambermusic.co.nz.
Anna Edgington pointed out that the image of classical music is one often one of wealth and starch, which doesn’t encourage new people to attend. She wrote:
“If sex does begin to sell classical music, I'd much rather ‘sex sells’ than ‘wealth sells.’ Sex is for all!
However, from the examples in your post, I do not believe the performers are parading as sexual adverts for classical music...they are being colourful; outwardly expressing their eccentricities and tastes. It is traditionalism that detracts most from music itself. Let’s try to keep the classical world open, refreshed and for everybody, regardless of class, creed, education, wealth...who cares!? It’s the music that matters.”
Our very own Advocate and regular performer, Michael Houstoun, had a few things to say, too:
“I have been guilty of a few onstage fashion crimes over the years and so my take on your Issues 'sex sells' piece can only be hopelessly personal. But for what it’s worth here are a few thoughts.
Cameron Carpenter's clothing choices are entirely understandable. An organist has to do a lot to get noticed. In some churches the console is so hidden away the player is literally invisible. And in a concert hall they are reduced to the size of a peanut beside an instrument as large as three houses and as loud as a jumbo jet. Cameron is not the first player to dress up to compensate for this.
Hahn-Bin clearly has a theatrical sense which, let's face it, is more appropriate onstage than off. He is in the line of Vanessa Mae and Nigel Kennedy and certainly the latter player has not let his dressed-up persona prevent him from being taken seriously as a musician. It is possible to get over the way they look if they are really delivering the goods when they play.
Yuja Wang, I will make bold to say, has simply got it wrong. There is no theatricality or 'staginess' in her costume at all. The problem is that it is an appropriate costume but in an entirely different context - for example, if she is going to a B-list cocktail party or out to walk the streets. I fear she could do a flawless delivery of the complete Chopin etudes and at the end you would still be wondering why she chose that dress and those shoes.”
Andrew DuFresne from Port Waikato also believes that good taste goes a long way:
“Some interesting observations: I see nothing wrong with some eye candy while listening to music but even at a nightclub good taste is a lot more important to most people than short skirts or stovepipe trousers. The positives? Women are usually beautifully presented on stage anyway, but it would be an improvement if we could get the men out of penguin suits. And black is very boring!”
Finally, John Wuts from Napier believes that there’s nothing wrong with attractive musicians, as long as the music wins out:
“First and foremost I judge a musician by my ears, and if he or she is good looking and dresses accordingly that will enhance my enjoyment of a good night out. We live in the 21st century nowadays!”