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Get out and listen!

Yesterday my wife and I went to the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall. It had been far too long that I'd heard live instruments that weren't rock or country, thus greatly amplified. There's something very different about the symphony or chamber or classical music in general when it's live than the aforementioned genres.

We were in row L, just off center and had a great place to enjoy the performance. Not too close and yet close enough to hear nuances. Of course the second thing I did right after letting myself be immersed was to consider the contrast between my system and a live performance. I'm not going to say that my system rivals a live performance! I am going to say that within the limitations that we all deal with (space, budget, esthetics) that it acquits itself acceptably. If anything, it might be a bit heavy on the bottom end. I need to dial back my sub a bit.

Anyway, the reason for my post is simply to encourage audiophile to get out and listen to the real thing. There is a movement in Handel's Water Music that begins with a pair of french horns that literally brought tears to my eyes. Despite all the time, effort and money we spend on our rigs, there is simply nothing that compares to the real thing. Nothing... Happy Listening.

https://seattlesymphony.org/en/concerttickets/calendar/2022-2023/22bar1

 

musicfan2349

Showing 2 responses by millercarbon

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 

That reminds me, one of the most amazing things I ever heard was Holly Cole at the Showbox. This intimate dinner/jazz club seated only about 100 or so. The show started with no one on stage. No announcer. No introduction. Everyone was chatting when Holly Cole began singing I Am Calling You from off-stage.

Just Holly Cole. No mic. No amp. That place got quiet, FAST! 

The song starts out very low and builds. As it does she comes on stage, still unamplified. Wow. String bass and piano join in. Pure acoustic bliss!

For the rest of the night she used a mic. Just too hard on the chops not to, I guess. But I asked around the table at the end of the night, everyone agreed that was the best part and the most exciting thing most of us ever heard.

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 

Redmond is 20 min from Edmonds, and you are welcome anytime. Not Benaroya, not from where you are used to at any rate, but I have been way up in the balcony where it actually sounds better at home. 
In any case what you said about live acoustic instruments is gospel. As a kid in grade school they had a Seattle Symphony Orchestra violinist come play in class. Was like 3rd or 4th grade.
Still recall like yesterday when he showed us the violin how his every touch set it to resonating. When he played it the power and intensity was electric. He had us close our eyes- this is one violin, he said, and played a melody. This is four violins, and played some chords and it did sound like four! 
We went on a field trip to Seattle, the Opera House, and that was my first time at a concert. 
Then all through Jr High and High school I played French horn. So for an hour a day for 6 years I heard real live instruments almost every day. All during that time I was an audiophile, yes even in grade school. And knew from childhood to appreciate the live sound. Even so, it bears repeating, and I think a lot of what ails high end audio would go away in a heartbeat if only more of us would take your advice and go out and listen. 

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