Prom 10: Andsnes/Mahler CO (24.07.15)

[edashtav]

The piano LID is an essential component in its 'sound projection'.

But that sound projection is directional, Tony and the RAH is close to needing "surround sound". One of the problems in the hall is hearing instruments that are directionally voiced. Opening the lid doesn't attentuate the piano's sound but it does spre\ad it more fairly to all quarters.

[EdgeleyRob]

Thanks for the above comments about the arrangement of the players and the missing piano lid everyone.

The piano LID is an essential component in its 'sound projection'.
I can't believe that an orchestra - especially a 'listening orchestra' - couldn't cope with accompanying a pianist in 'essential core repertoire' with the piano lid 'on and raised'.

Makes sense to me

[Historian]

You're right, fhg, my meaning was unclear and undermined by typos - the latter were due to optical problems that I'm suffering following a set of wasp stings around my one good eyea fortnight ago.

I hope that the unpleasant legacy of the wasp stings fades soon. Many thanks for your thoughts on Friede auf Erden and also on David Hill and the BBC Singers which were very interesting.

[Ferretfancy]

But that sound projection is directional, Tony and the RAH is close to needing "surround sound". One of the problems in the hall is hearing instruments that are directionally voiced. Opening the lid doesn't attentuate the piano's sound but it does spre\ad it more fairly to all quarters.

Listening in the Arena at a reasonable but not too close distance, the balance between piano and orchestra was excellent, and the absence of the lid allowed the most subtle of visual clues to reach the players. During both the Stravinsky works, Apollo and Dumbarton Oaks, the directional placing was very impressive with the upper strings standing.
I could not say how the chamber orchestra came across in the further reaches of the hall, but where we were was well nigh perfect

[Hitch]

I've just watched the performance of Dumbarton Oaks and thoroughly enjoyed it. The placing of musicians worked very well.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My fears about the BBC Singers were confirmed in part. They were as proficient and efficient as ever, but lacked soul, sounding like a group of horcruxes unable to become a whole entity.

[MrGongGong]

Who nicked the piano lid ?

Great move to confuse the tossers who like to do the "heave, ho" routine

[Serial_Apologist]

My fears about the BBC Singers were confirmed in part. They were as proficient and efficient as ever, but lacked soul, sounding like a group of horcruxes unable to become a whole entity.

I did get a bit lost in the more discursive contrapuntal passages, putting this down to vibrato unsuitable to such music mushing up the textures. Schoenberg knew how to score with clarity for choirs, and I'm sure this work was not an exception.

[VodkaDilc]

Great move to confuse the tossers who like to do the "heave, ho" routine

Haven't they become very much limited in their contributions in recent years? The over-enunciated requests for loose change on the way out seem to have been the only comments from the prommers at the two concerts I've been to so far.