Tuning your orchestra high was sort of the 19th century equivalent of the modern loudness war. The problem is that orchestras tuning to ever higher pitches meant that singers had to sing higher to match, and it was putting serious strain on their voices, which can easily lead to injuries.
Having some sort of agreement setting a standard was just something of an "enough is enough" sort of moment. It just amuses me to no end that this was achieved by writing it into the Treaty of Versailles, of all things. We're settling a freaking world war, so let's make sure we settle the issue of orchestra pitch as part of the treaty.
Tuning your orchestra high was sort of the 19th century equivalent of the modern loudness war. The problem is that orchestras tuning to ever higher pitches meant that singers had to sing higher to match, and it was putting serious strain on their voices, which can easily lead to injuries.
Having some sort of agreement setting a standard was just something of an "enough is enough" sort of moment. It just amuses me to no end that this was achieved by writing it into the Treaty of Versailles, of all things. We're settling a freaking world war, so let's make sure we settle the issue of orchestra pitch as part of the treaty.