Re: OT: Is the BP twice as good as the SFS?

On Oct 9, 12:41 pm, Simon Roberts <s...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
jrsnfld <jrsn...@xxxxxxx> wrote innews:6d2918ac-28cf-441b-9139-17fbd1d08987@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

[snip]



But basically I find that seeing *does* hurt hearing. I find that the
concert sounds quite different when I shut my eyes. Usually it sounds
better because shutting my eyes helps me concentrate on all the sound,
not just the sound of whatever my eyes are focused on (regardless of
movement).

When I look at the flute I "notice" the sound of the flute. When I
look at the conductor's left hand I "notice" something about the
phrasing. When I look at the right hand I "notice" something about the
metrical structure of the music. When I look at the percussionist
raise the symbols I "anticipate" the crash. All to the detriment of
hearing something else that's happening.

So, when I close my eyes, I become more like a passive receptacle of
sounds, more able to actually hear all of what is happening with equal
attention.

That sounds (!) about right.  But at the risk of seeming superficial,
don't you also find it interesting when encountering a new musician or
group of musicians to see what they do?  If recent videos I've seen of
the BPO are typical, they're great to watch (rather different, if my
memory's right, from how they played for Karajan).  I can't imagine
going to a concert conducted by Carlos Kleiber and not watching at least
him. (30 years ago I attended a starrily cast performance of Figaro at
Covent Garden conducted by Boehm and was lucky enough to sit in a low
box slightly in front of Boehm from where I could watch everything he
did.  The expression on his face when the bassoonist flubbed a solo in
the overture has remained far more firmly lodged in my memory than
anything Prey, Zylis-Gara, Baltsa and co did on the stage....)

Simon

I enjoy watching for about a minute or two. Sometimes I open my eyes
for a few seconds and then close them. I'm not an absolutist. But when
it comes to the Berlin Phil, and one's first impression of this great
orchestra live, my advice remains: listen without your eyes. I think
this merely heightens appreciation for what *is* great about the
orchestra, rather than the rest of the show, the reputation, etc.

When I have a seat behind the orchestra, or really close (and hence
the balance is probably not that great anyway), of course I watch more
than I would if I had no such visual advantages. You take what you can
get. As you point, you see priceless things from an "insider's"
perspective. But again--first concert ever to hear a great orchestra--
you can count on me concentrating on making a lasting impression of
the sounds and nothing else. Otherwise I go home and have only my CDs
to tell me what I was supposed to hear--a waste of a ticket.

--Jeff
.

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