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Concert halls from around the world. What have been your favorites.

I have been to the best ones in NYC and many other cities in the US and Europe.  Fisher and many others come to mind... But I am interested in your experiences. 

All of the best live performances of music at all of the great halls, the music was on stage in front of me, Left to Right with natural front to back based on the stage and arrangements of players.

I have never been to a great live performance where there were player to my sides or behind.  Hence my interest in Stereo and not 5:1, 7:1, 467:1 et. al. 

But if you enjoy movies where the dinosaur or something is attacking from the sides or back...well...

I am still of the thought that the "Absolute Sound" is great live music in a great building.  But I also like real, fresh and natural foods vs. processed, max corn sweetener foods....

whatjd
palasr
516 posts
 
+1 for Symphony Hall in Boston.  A benchmark of acoustics.  

Other favorites are Smetana Hall at the Obecní dům in Prague: delicate, open sound.  Teatro Massimo in Palermo:  precise, weighty, immediate.  Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy NY:  perhaps the best rendering of a piano quintet I've ever heard.  

Most fun while watching an opera:  Teatro Regio in Parma.  A critical audience to be sure.
whatjd OP
1,139 posts
 
The original Hancher in Iowa City was quite good until a flood ended it's life.  The new one is good, but I do not have enough experience yet to compare them.  Being a Jazz fan, most of the live performances I have seen were in commercial places...like bars, Sweet Basil's, The Blue Note and others.

I have seen several "outdoor" events and find it is all over the place sound wise.....


rcprince
3,059 posts
 
palasr--I agree with you on watching an opera in Italy.  I went to a performance by a touring troupe in Todi, and it was almost like being at a baseball game here in the US.
dayglow
1,730 posts
 
Another vote for Hill Auditorium. Have attended many concerts there including several folk festivals classical and pop/rock/blues performances always with above average hall acoustics. The standout concert was The Berlin Philharmonic with Claudio Abbado conducting his farewell tour 2001. I believe they only performed in 5 cities NY/Chicago/SF and DC? The performance was stunning with razor sharp precision and dynamics, I'm sure the acoustics of Hill Auditorium accentuated the great Berlin Philharmonic!
cwlondon
1,210 posts
 
bsimpson
Vienna - schmienna!!

Everyone knows that only New York has the best of the best of the BEST of everything, 24/7.  Obviously, you are a hateful, privileged, misogynist. 

I bet you eat meat and don't even drive an electric car.
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