Scottish CO at Younger Hall, St Andrews in Romantic Repertory

[edashtav]

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra, with Sharon Robinson (cello) and Jaime Laredo (conductor / violin), play Dvorák, Saint-Saëns and Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony.
Live from Younger Hall, St. Andrews, Scotland
19.30 Radio 3, Wednesday 16th October, 2013
Dvorák: Romance
Saint-Saëns: The Muse and the Poet

Dvorák: Silent Woods
Mendelssohn: Symphony No 3 Scottish

I post this thread mainly to ask a question.

I found the sound of the fine Scottish group as relayed from the Younger Hall in St Andrews to be over-immediate, lacking in ambience, and with individual instruments not blending but sounding isolated in their own sound-frames.
I’m wondering...
Was that a function of:

• My equipment (I tried two sets – both sounded unusually dry);
• The SCO (usually, an integrated, smooth-sounding band);
• The BBC’s microphony / transmission
• The acoustics of the Younger Hall (I understand it holds about 1000 people and is about 90 years old) ?

I listened to the second half and found Dvorak’s Silent Woods lacked poetry and beauty and I felt that Sharon Robinson sounded uncomfortably dry and close. Nothing was being “air-brushed" by the Hall, so that minute warts in her playing obtruded and spoiled my enjoyment. Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony came across adequately but its slow introduction failed to grip, partly I felt because of the lack of warmth in the acoustic- it was too matter of fact. Later, faster passages sounded better- but that was to be expected given what I felt were acoustic issues.

I’d be interested in the thoughts of other listeners.

[DracoM]

I fear I totally agree. Acoustic non-existent, sound / micing so close as to sound wooden, dropping and banging during the first item, some really scratchy playing as if they were all sight-reading. frankly, it was a pretty poor concert, and IMO Laredo nothing like his best of years ago. Oh dear. SCO are usually one heck of a band, but not here.

[salymap]

I kept meaning to do a heads up but life intervened.

Sad but I shan't bother to listen now though.
Whatdo others think of the concert ?

[amcluesent]

Yep, the acoustic was leaden. I guess OB from there is rare, so maybe the crew had no idea how to bring some life to the sound?