Photo credit: Charles Noble
It’s amazing, how different things can sound just by moving a few feet in any direction.
I was up in the balcony this morning as the Adams Chamber Symphony was being rehearsed. I started in the Dress Circle. Ok sound, nothing super, couldn’t hear the keyboard, any of the lower frequency instruments.
I moved up to the lower balcony. Super muddy sound, no clarity at all.
Up to the upper balcony. Better sound, lower frequencies starting to bloom a bit more.
All the way up to the last row. Great sound! The clarity is astonishing. Good bass response, I can even hear the poor outnumbered string instruments.
If I had a choice, I’d sit in the center section of the last couple rows of the upper balcony, and bring binoculars with me. I think they’re the best seats for hearing what the orchestra actually sounds like in Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
The Chamber Symphony sounds great – it’s a very difficult work, and everyone’s earning their principal pay playing it this week.
