Sat front row at the symphony...

@viber6 and @terraplane8bob  I am an amateur choral singer and recording engineer who has done both at venues such as Disney Hall, Soroya (CSUN) and Royce Hall (UCLA).  I was also a classical music reviewer at UCLA (1970s).  I have over 48.500 LPs/CD/78s. 

Performing with live orchestras, I never get the front sound/full picture but do get tremendous pure direct sound from the percussion, rear strings, horns and some woodwinds depending on my position at the rear. 

My audio system rarely reproduces that sound but does reproduce the excitement of the performances.  Most of my recordings are studio rather than orchestral halls (which I am thankful for as too many modern recordings are drenched in reverb/distant sounding).  

For home listening, I prefer a less reverberant and more direct sound.  That also provides greater body to instruments and voices.  For me, performance comes before sonic delights.  I have several friends with high end sounding audio systems who don't listen to mono recordings, stick to either analog or digital only.  They are missing out on great performances.  Funny how they enjoy my alternative older mono & analog and newer digital recordings on my audio system but don't choose it for their listening. 

For orchestral hall listening, while several friends prefer front row, especially for chamber works, I prefer row 10 generally.  As a music reviewer, I regularly traded away my front row tickets at Royce to for 10th row seats   So, every listener has their preference.  At the opera, (400+ Dorothy Chandler performances), the closer I get the better, both visually and sonically, up to the 10th row. Too far forward degrades both.  

@viber6 Well, I partially agree with you. Had you sat in Royce Hall/UCLA back in the 60’s to 80’s prior to the big remodel, you would NOT have appreciated the brighter/thinner sound in the first row versus the 10th. It was direct alright, but did not sound cohesive. I heard over 70 classical concerts, orchestral and instrumental. There were always empty seats up front, for a reason. Unfortunately, not many great performances any longer to attend so I haven’t auditioned the sound lately. As to Disney Hall and Soroya/CSUN, yes, closer produces a more precise and dynamic sound.  I also record chamber music in a large private home for Viklarbo and sit further back than 5' or 10' from the performers.  Too close for the size of the room.  No loss in resolution at 15' to 20'.  

I too dislike the distant miking for purposes of adding "ambiance." I want to hear the full tone of the instruments. Studio recordings can add plate or tape reverb, etc. but not lose the main/basic sound. My favorite jazz recordings were made in the late 50s and 60’s on "antiquated" tube equipment, mics and mixers with magnetic tape, in studios like Contemporary. There’s some reverb but mostly direct, colorful, dynamic sound recordings. I love em." I have 7,000 78s and at least 70,000 vocal recordings on CDs and LPs. half from the 78 recording era. Performances never to be duplicated.

@viper6 Yes, I’ve heard live music in NYC subways throughout the 2000s’ to 2018, the last time I visited.

LA is blasting classical music to deter homeless people from gathering at metro stations The Los Angeles Metro is using classical music on its light rail system to deter homeless people from congregating and sleeping in a downtown station.https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-04-04/loud-classical-music-macarthur-park-metro-los-angeles-decibel-meter

I still won’t use the LA subway for all the classical music they play because it is dangerous and dirty, plus it is 25 miles south of me (I reside in the San Fernando Valley part of LA City). Mexico City has a superior subway as well as the sterling Tokyo one.    And this appropriate article: https://www.dailywire.com/news/psychological-torture-chamber-l-a-subway-plays-classical-music-critics-go-bonkers?fbclid=IwAR3WEcUPGnV5BKOf4vI-gRaCcGIC7dJuNaqgwD_qFVKKbDoyDmAA8T3EYlw

Los Angeles County continues to promote public transit growth/development and continuously greater funding despite the current funding sufficient to provide free transportation for all who need it. Simultaneously, fewer riders of public transportation and attacks on private vehicle transportation through the elimination of streets to bicycles. 

@lfssbn1 YES +1

@viber6 For 20 years I had various stats.  My favorite was the Acoustat 2+2.  My last was an ML Monolith III.  My new wife (1st died) hated them for their beaminess, lack of dynamic contrast, inadequate bass and overall brightness (replaced by Legacy Focus 23 years ago).  I enjoyed hearing Maggies, SoundLabs which are are essentially straight panels, Alsyvox, etc. flat speakers.  So, I certainly agree that I prefer flat panel stats and planars to curved ones.