Orchestra's New Seating Chart Sparks Civil War Between First and Second Violins

A decision by Music Director Serge Podiumov to adopt antiphonal seating — placing the second violins on the right side of the stage opposite the firsts rather than behind them in the traditional American arrangement — has ignited a factional conflict within the Lakeshore Symphony that participants describe as 'the worst thing to happen to this orchestra since we programmed Boulez.' 'Antiphonal seating is historically authentic,' Maestro Podiumov explained. 'Brahms, Beethoven, Mahler — they all wrote for this layout. The dialogue between first and second violins across the stage creates a stereophonic effect that is compositionally essential. This is not a demotion. It is a restoration.' The second violins disagree. 'We've been moved to the right side,' said section leader Anna Secondo. 'The audience's right. Which means we're now facing away from the audience. Our f-holes project into the wings. Our sound goes into the curtains. We might as well be playing in the parking lot.' The first violins, who retain their traditional left-side placement, have received the change with poorly concealed satisfaction. 'It makes musical sense,' said concertmaster Friedrich Primgeiger, adjusting his already-prominent chair to face the audience more directly. 'The firsts carry the melodic material. The seconds provide harmonic support. It's only logical that the supporting section would be positioned supportively. This is not a hierarchy. It's acoustics.' 'It's absolutely a hierarchy,' responded Secondo. 'He smiled when he said acoustics. I saw it.' The conflict has extended to rehearsals, where the sections now engage in what the woodwinds describe as 'competitive vibrato' — each section playing its passages with increasingly wide vibrato in what appears to be an attempt to project more sound toward the audience. 'The Brahms Second now sounds like it's being performed on a ship in rough seas,' observed principal flutist Diana Traverso. 'The vibrato has gotten so wide I can't tune to either section. I've started tuning to the oboe and hoping for the best.' Maestro Podiumov has declared the seating permanent. The second violins have started a petition. The firsts have framed theirs.