Riding the bus with Mozart and Bach
Passengers traveling from Ra'anana to Tel Aviv get to enjoy classical music between bus stops.
These often annoying sounds are now being joined by something much more pleasant: Classical music from the bus' loudspeakers during the ride.
The unique project was inaugurated last week on bus No. 48 of the Metropoline company, which travels between the cities of Tel Aviv and Ra'anana. In honor of the debut ride, a violinist and an oboe player from the Ra'anana Symphonette Orchestra got on the bus and began playing classical pieces as the driver hit the road.
"What's going on, are they shooting a movie here?" asked Mali Levi as she hopped on the bus on Tel Aviv's Allenby Street to the sounds of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker."
"We're here to make you enjoy some classical music," one of the players replied. "Well done, it's a great idea," she answered with a smile. "Music is a relaxing treat on a public bus."
"It's romantic, amazing and relaxing," said another passenger, Orel Cohen. Rami Ben-Moshe agreed: "It's nice listening to serene and relaxing music after coming from the busy street. It will calm down the passengers."
"It was charming. You made my day," said another passenger as she stepped off the bus.
While the live performance was a one-time surprise, from now on the bus will play classical music from its loudspeakers for 15 seconds, a moment after the next stop is announced. Each bus stop will have its own unique musical segment. All segments were recorded by the Ra'anana Symphonette Orchestra.
The experimental project, which began on bus No. 48, will be expanded to the bus company's other lines in accordance with passengers' reactions.
The project was initiated by the Ra'anana Symphonette Orchestra and the Metropoline bus company. "I kept on thinking of a way to bring our amazing classical music to the public," says the orchestra's CEO, Orit Fogel. "That's why we chose musical segments which almost every person is familiar with."
Sharon Shavit Agam, Metropoline's VP customer service and business development, concludes: "Making classical music accessible is part of our service perception. The joint goal is to turn the bus ride into an experience."
