Members blue2blue Posted June 19, 2008 Members Share Posted June 19, 2008 Never been to a symphonic orchestra at a nice venue, I take it. Good call! And I'll take my listening position out a good ways into the audience for that one, too -- maybe even in the loge or balcony, depending on the venue. It's not just blend issues* that would put me there -- although that's a huge issue -- but also, critically, time alignment. I've never heard an actual performance from the middle of an orchestra but I've definitely moved around in the middle during recording session set up and it's really immediate and interesting (esp. for an audiophile/engineering type) but it is not a good place to hear the work... For one thing, in a well-rehearsed, sophisticated orchestra, everyone will be playing temporally in such a way that the sound from their instruments will reach the conductor (and presumably those behind him) with the proper rhythmic alignment. There can be many score feet from the percussion line at the back of the orchestra to the front of the strings and that can translate into a long damn time... and a lot of 'playing ahead of the beat' by the percussionists and horns. If everyone's doing it right -- it all comes out in proper rhythmic alignment at the front. Not in the middle. *My old subscription seat at the symphony was at the front of the upper balcony. It was a little dizzying and there was no leg room -- but the sound was great. When my mom came on board, we ended up getting seats in the 15th row center. It's definitely a more immediate experience -- but the orchestra sounded better, a better blend overall -- from up in the balcony. Ah... but the rich folks' seats are big and relatively comfortable and there's so much leg room... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jeff da Weasel Posted June 19, 2008 Members Share Posted June 19, 2008 Now the conductor's podium -- that might be a little better. I guest (student) conducted the Carson Symphony once. Man, it's like getting hit in the face with a 2x4, except more fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rudolf von Hagenwil Posted June 19, 2008 Members Share Posted June 19, 2008 it's like getting hit in the face with a 2x4, except more fun. and it doesn't hurt like in a THX cinema Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jeff da Weasel Posted June 19, 2008 Members Share Posted June 19, 2008 No, it feels gooooooooooood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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