EU hush prompts musical outcry

The Washington Times reports:

Shhhh! Mute the brass, and please — go easy on the cymbals.

A European Union directive on noise abatement contains a provision that will limit the "noise" of symphony orchestras beginning early next year.

While it's not meant to ban Beethoven's "ba-ba-ba-baah," some musicians are worried overzealous enforcement could take the "Joy" out of the German master's exuberant "Ode to ..."

"It can't work in symphony orchestras," said Libor Pesek, conductor of the Prague Symphony. "How could you apply it to Gustav Mahler, for instance, or Richard Strauss?"

Great moments in regulation.