Bach Magnificat / Halle

[DracoM]

Was it just me?
The sound balance was so weird - band loud, good, but the choir sounded as if miles away. Even more pronounced in the Stravinsky.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'll listen to this later and assess the sound balance.

[EdgeleyRob]

Was it just me?
The sound balance was so weird - band loud, good, but the choir sounded as if miles away. Even more pronounced in the Stravinsky.

Not noticeably so on I Player DM,I've just listened to the Bach only,although it did sound a tad bass heavy and I Player did stop working half way through .
Was fine the second time I listened.

[Stanfordian]

Was it just me?
The sound balance was so weird - band loud, good, but the choir sounded as if miles away. Even more pronounced in the Stravinsky.

Hiya Draco,

The sound engineers at the Bridgewater Hall usually know what they are going but the acoustic in the hall is challenging for the voice.

[Roslynmuse]

The choir were on the platform behind the orchestra (seated in the Stravinsky) rather than in the choir seats. I'll catch up with the broadcast later.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Hiya Draco,

The sound engineers at the Bridgewater Hall usually know what they are going but there its a stange acoustic for the voice.

They did a superb job with Elgar's Apostles.

[DracoM]

The choir were on the platform behind the orchestra (seated in the Stravinsky) rather than in the choir seats. I'll catch up with the broadcast later.

Aha! That sounds like a very plausible explanation to me. Many thx.
Presumably engineers knew the choir would be SITTING behind the band?
So Stravinsky did not intend the choir to be all that well heard, maybe?

[jean]

Where are the choir seats, if not behind the orchestra?

(I've been to the Bridgwater a number of times but never to hear anything with an orchestra - that would be disloyal.)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Where are the choir seats, if not behind the orchestra?

I was puzzled by this, too, presuming that "on the platform" meant "on the same level(s) as the orchestra as opposed to raised above it in the terraced choir seats"?

(I've been to the Bridgwater a number of times but never to hear anything with an orchestra - that would be disloyal.)

- do they have rival "orchestral scarves"?

[DracoM]

I noticed rather more the statement that the choir were sitting - does that mean while they were singing, or.....? Presumably not?

[Stanfordian]

They did a superb job with Elgar's Apostles.

Very true. The sound engineers at the Bridgewater can usually produce excellent results. I was there for The Apostles and have the recording.

[Roslynmuse]

Where are the choir seats, if not behind the orchestra?

(I've been to the Bridgwater a number of times but never to hear anything with an orchestra - that would be disloyal.)

Yes, the choir seats are behind the orchestra, but not on the platform. The choir were on the platform and therefore on the same level as the orchestra last week. They were sitting to sing the chorale melody in the Stravinsky but stood to sing the Bach. Hope that is clearer...

[DracoM]

Aha! Thx.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

(I've been to the Bridgwater a number of times but never to hear anything with an orchestra - that would be disloyal.)

Orchestras aren't football teams.