[Scott[_6_]]

On Monday, August 5, 2013 11:47:17 AM UTC-7, Andrew Haley wrote:
Scott wrote:



I would not walk out just because there is sound reinforcement but I

don't agree with you about this separation between sound (I would

add view to that as well) and the communication between the audience

and the performers. What we as audience members actually hear and

see is a pretty important part of that communication. The same exact

performance as seen and heard up close at Disney Hall is a totally

different experience as seen and heard from the back row at the

Hollywood Bowl.



Sure, I agree with that. There is something very alienating about

arena concerts. I went to one or two and swore that I never would

again.



So there is a whole lot more to it than just the performance. I

don't care how good the performance is, you would never know it from

the back of the bowl. OTOH the visceral experience of an orchestra

from row EE dead center at Disney Hall is one that will follow you

for the rest of your life.



It does matter. A lot.



Absolutely so, but that's really not what I'm talking about here. Of

course sound quality and proximity helps, but that's not what the

experience is about.

Well it is what the experience is about to the extent that it affects the experience. And to it affects the experience profoundly.


We're listening to people, not fiddles, and

emotional communication is the point.

And emotional communication suffers serious loss through bad sound or with a bad view. Our emotional connection comes via what we hear and what we see.
Isn't that why we are all audiophiles? To better connect with the recordings of the music we love through better sound. That certainly is why I'm in it. Music is an aesthetic experience so better aesthetics makes for a better experience.