Outdoor recordings

[12tone.]

After seeing this cd cover it had me thinking about outdoor recordings:




I know there would be a huge difference in sound quality and reverb (probably none at all) but just that other 'openness' would be neat.  And no, I'm not going for a "Vivaldi with the Ocean" cd concept, but more of an open air sound.  Just thinking about hearing a Beethoven PT outside or some other chamber work would be interesting; ideal for the type of music.  Symphonic music though?  Probably not.

I'm just talking about chamber music here.

[Szykneij]

Go to Amazon and do a search for "Hollywood Bowl". You'll find lots of recordings.


Hollywood Bowl



Hatch Shell, Boston

[mahlertitan]

no!

[jochanaan]

A performer's perspective: As "romantic" as playing outdoors sounds, there are severe challenges.  We've already talked about the acoustics; sounds tend to just vanish.  But also, the outdoor air is almost always too dry, too wet, too hot, too cold, too something for good playing.  Instruments go out of tune, strings and woodwinds sometimes crack and never sound the same again, players get sunburned--and what if it rains?

The best outdoor gigs are the spontaneous ones, in which players carrying instruments suddenly realize that conditions are right, get them out, and just start playing--wonderful to experience, but how do you record something like that?

So no, I don't think there should be more outdoor recordings.

[mahlertitan]

well, maybe in California.

[Drasko]

Le Roque d'Antheron Piano Festival in southern France is another well known outdoor event. Recordings I heard from it tend to be touch close miked (to avoid dissipation of the sound probably) and to hear birds singing is usual.