Chamber Concert: Mixed Feelings

This past weekend we attended the last concert of this year's chamber music circle and it was both fabulous and disappointing.  I realized as I was driving home that I haven't written about any of these concerts this year, and it is mostly because of this good/bad dichotomy which I have been feeling in relation to this series.

The musicians were fabulous (The Daedalus Quartet), the program gorgeous (Mozart, Brahms, Dillon) and yet the whole thing seemed over-amplified and it truly distracted from the sound.  With the Mozart it was not so much the volume, although that has often been a problem, but the way the amplification muddied the sound, muting the clarity that should have been there.  I must admit I didn't notice as much in the Dillon, but I am not as familiar with Dillon, and the music was at times much more spare.

The Brahms really got to me though.  We listened to the Piano Quintet in F minor, Op 34, and as I mentioned the performance seemed fabulous.  But the piano was overpowering, deafening really, as were the combination of the strings with the piano.  This is a very small hall, seating around 100, with lovely acoustics on its own.  There is no need for amplification, in fact the amplification works against the music.

And yet no one seems to notice or say anything.  I really don't know any of the board members, and I do wonder if it is just me, although G notices the same thing so probably not.  I think I shall have to inquire at the board meeting next month.  I hope I'm not just becoming one of those grumpy old ladies who complains about everything.  I would expect the volume and the amplification at a rock concert but not with a string quartet.

Comments

[materfamilias]

I suspect you must be a wonderful contributor to the board -- from what I know of you here, you're always thoughtful and considered in your opinions and you won't be complaining for the sake of. And although I also suspect that you and your husband are especially astute listeners, if you're bothered by the amplification, you're probably not the only ones. (and I agree, why amplify in that intimate setting?)

[deja pseu]

I've never attended a classical music performance where the music was amplified. That seems odd, especially in a venue that size. I'm sorry it distracted from the performance.