Lisa Gerrard and bad breath
I had the great fortune attending a Lisa Gerrard concert yesterday. I have little doubt that she is truly blessed and one of the most composed, focused and powerful singers I have ever heard. She has an extreme tonal palette- and range, perfect sense pitch – consciously controlling dissonance and absolute control over her vibrato, which puts her in a league with angels.
However … The experience got utterly ruined by a person next to me with absolutely horrible breath. It was like sitting between the voice of an angel and the stench from hell. The ultimate clash of concepts. Susanne and I did everything we could to take measures. I ultimately had to take one hand and cover my nose for the most concert, however the stench still penetrated. Susanne pretty much dealt with it by sitting with an open can of lotion through out most of the concert.
I really don’t have words for this. But the smell really ruined the experience – until we decided to move in the last third of the concert, which finally brought some fresh air.
But what can you do in such a situation? You cannot really tell people: “Hey! Your breath qualifies for the next season of 24!”. So it is kinda hard to avoid it. I guess we could have asked to be repositioned earlier in the concert, which is probably what we should have done.
But I would also say that people with abnormally bad breath needs to understand how it affects people in a more intimate, social context. I think I could have accepted Lisa Gerrard having the death breath – cause her godly voice would make up for it.
But for anybody else … Bring your mints … cause you ruin the world for others.
