Posted by:
caffiend
(
)
Date: February 14, 2017 09:48AM
A great concert hall can be considered a temple. Thus, with trepidation, I think I'll include the SL Tabernacle on the list. Like the Christian Science "Mother Church" and its organ, we can acknowledge that even TSCC does some things right.
Back to Boston's Symphony Hall, the organ from the BSO's first concert hall was reinstalled in a building in Methuen, Mass. Wonderful instrument, horrible acoustics, alas.
I did hear Seiji Ozawa conduct the Mahler 8th ("Symphony of a Thousand") in Symphony Hall, years ago. Chorus #1 was in the rear of the stage, Chorus #2 was split on the first balcony forward wings, and the Boston Boys Choir was on risers along the left wall of the stage. Eight soloists (Eight soloists, folks, count 'em, eight!) were split on each side of the podium. The score calls for a separated brass "choir" which was put in the second balcony, rear of the hall.
They removed about 8 rows of seats and extended the stage forward. The work concludes fortissimo. I had perfect seats, about 11 rows back, house center, but with all that volume, impressive at it was, it was hard to discern the multitude of elements and voices.
https://wsdg.com/wp-content/uploads/BSO-Final-2.jpg