Catching up with the "Barbican Birthday" performance of Haydn`s Creation this week, I was struck by the awful backward balance of the choir, making it sound like a small group of 1-to-a-part performers. Anyone else notice this?
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I attended the performance at the Barbican. Unusually, the chorus was placed in the stalls in front of the orchestra, rather than on stage behind the orchestra (I assume that this placement was due to Covid protocols). I suspect this would have made suitable microphone placement very difficult. I don’t recall any spot microphones in front of the chorus, so I think they were only being recorded by the microphones suspended above them. This probably contributed to the recessed sound you noted in the broadcast.Originally posted by ARBurton View Post"I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square."
Lady Bracknell The importance of Being Earnest -
That's interesting, thank you. I'd wondered how it sounded in the hall. Did you enjoy it?Comment
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It looked a bit odd to start with, especially as they had their backs to the orchestra and conductor (the chorus director was conducting them from the back row of the stalls), but the sound they made was fine in the hall, and I enjoyed the performance enormously. If I was being hyper-critical, I would say the sound of the chorus was a little detached from the orchestra and soloists as they were not on stage, but you quickly got used to it, and there was no lack of power when required.Originally posted by ARBurton View Post"I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square."
Lady Bracknell The importance of Being EarnestComment
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The facilities for a symphony chorus at the Barbican are amongst the poorest - in covid terms a definite risk as its so cramped (and poorly ventilated). The descent to the stage can be dangerous if the chorister has any sort of mobility issue (at all) and overall the space on stage is inadequate. Thus, I am somewhat indifferent to opportunities to sing there........Originally posted by LHC View Post
(Reason's why I hoped Rattle's Concert Hall would have replaced this "facility").
Managements (Hall and other) take choruses for granted as they are volunteers (and there is no contract of service giving health and safety obligations). Maybe the risk assessment for the (contracted) orchestra indicated the chorus would be too close to them and a Covid risk.
(I sang in a choral concert last night where the choir had been badly affected by drop outs because of Covid and a plea for replacements was sent out on the local grapevine.........)Comment
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