The Challenge of Orchestral Sound Reinforcement

The Challenge of Orchestral Sound Reinforcement

It is always a challenge to have an orchestra sound at an open-air concert, i.e. live and without a concert hall. First of all, even a great symphony orchestra in a field in front of hundreds or even thousands of listeners is much too soft to sufficiently make itself heard. In addition, the acoustics of the concert hall are missing, which only makes the overall sound experience possible through a skilful combination of reflection and absorption.

A major technical effort is required, therefore, together with musical expertise and aesthetic sensitivity, for an orchestra to sound like a sound-body with real instruments and living musicians in an open-air situation, and not like artificial amplification and unnatural stereophony.

After many years of successful cooperation with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen at the open-air festival “Summer in Lesmona,” both major Leipzig orchestras have inquired at GENUIN this year if an experienced sound engineer would lend his hand to the acoustic irradiation. Firstly, at the Orchestral Concert at Wackerbarth Castle (17 August 2008 in Radebeul) during the course of the MDR Music Summer. And secondly, at the Gewandhaus Open-Air Concert “Klassik AIRLEBEN” on 6 September 2008 at Augustusplatz in Leipzig. Alongside the Gewandhaus Orchestra and Riccardo Chailly, the soloists Vadim Repin (violin) and Truls Mørk (violoncello) will appear on stage.

linkThe Gewandhaus Concert on 6 September 2008 at Augustusplatz