Location of instruments in the orchestra...


I'm streaming a recording of Beethoven's Symphony No 1 in C Major.  It seems that the violin section is on the right side of the recording and the cellos and basses are on the left side.  From my experience (I have sat front row at many symphony concerts), the violin section is always on the left side and the cellos on the right (sometimes the basses are on the left, sometimes on the right).  

Do you think this is the fault of the recording or the mixing, or should I reverse my speakers?  How do you know if you have the speakers on the correct sides?  What do you think?

128x128mikeydee

Showing 1 response by frogman

+1 rcprince. Yes, first and second violins sometimes on opposites sides; particularly effective with Beethoven as he often wrote for the first and second violins to trade phrases; however, I don’t think I have ever seen first violins on the right side. Sounds like what you have is an accidental reversal of channels prior to pressing.