One Hungarian orchestra is embracing the use of masks in musical concert halls by fine-tuning face-coverings to enhance the music.

Orchestra conductor and the head of the Budapest Festival Orchestra, Ivan Fischer, came up with the idea when he looked out on an audience and realized he could give a positive spin to the grim realities of the pandemic. 

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The music-enhancing face coverings have two plastic 'ears' attached to them, life-sized plastic cups shaped like palms that fit around the concert-goers own ears, which help to channel the music and improve the listening experience. 

"I got to this idea that it should look like a hand because when we put our hands here," says the conductor, "we always understand the other person easier, we hear the consonants, and the music sounds much more beautiful."

Fischer says his masks assist in emulating church acoustics, providing clearer, sharper contours and warmer undertones, with concert attendees now wearing the masks in their dozens. 

One audience member said the sound was "clearly better" with the acoustic masks. "It focused the music more. I tried it, I took it off and put it back on and one can clearly feel the difference," she said.

The masks cost 8,000 forints ($27) each when ordered from the orchestra's website, and come in glittery white and black.