High expectations when listening to an orchestra


If you listen to an orchestra and expect to hear the real thing, you’re certain to be disappointed.
There’s no way you can come close to that experience  with your equipment.  An orchestra in your listening space is an impossibility. Therefore you have to adopt a “suspension of disbelief.”  In other words, trick yourself into believing it’s the real  thing.  You have to bring your imagination to the equation.
The degree to which you can suspend your disbelief, will determine how much enjoyment you get.
Of course, the better the quality of your equipment, the closer you will come.
With lesser forces than an orchestra, such as a few instruments or solo instrument or voice, the easier it becomes to approach reality.
rvpiano

Showing 1 response by oregonpapa

There’s a local church here that has excellent acoustics. Every quarter they have our professional symphony orchestra in for a performance. Each performance features some of the best young local musicians from ages 12-17 performing the solo instruments in the concertos. We always sit in the front row, right between the string section and the piano. I like to close my eyes and pretend that I’m listening to my home stereo system. As good as the system is at this point, it is VERY good, it doesn’t come close to the live performance. That is with full orchestras. However, small jazz groups, vocals, and small classical string performances are a different story. In that genre, the home system is getting very close indeed.

Have you ever heard a 12-year-old, who cannot reach the pedals without a booster play Gershwin's Rapsody in Blue so well that you want to throw every version in your collection away? These kids are astounding. 

Frank