the problem with electronic amplification of a orchestra in a hall designed for acoustical performances

[bloke]

At intermission during a concert today – and doing the same show today (as a run-out at a smaller venue - with far fewer microphones and far less amplification), we (low brass) laughed at ourselves, because we realized that – at the other two concerts, which were at a huge concert hall (where legion microphones, amplifiers, and speakers were in place) - that we had literally been competing - volume-wise (back at the other place) - with ourselves.

[Dan Tuba]

I always enjoy(not, lol) when you are performing when "they" decide to mic/amplify only certain sections in the ensemble, and then "they" are surprised by the results

[bort2.0]

Wait say what? Orchestras are mic'ed and amplified? I thought those mics were just for the radio broadcasts.

[bloke]

Memphis S.O. Christmas show:
M.S. Chorus, single and multiple soloists, MD narration/introductions, ballet dancers doing several Nutcracker selections, etc…
The sound guys miked the orchestra as well…(??)
If the hall had been “dead“, it might have been easier for us to interpret, but all of that sound was whooshing out into the hall - and then back to our ears…

… at the somewhat more acoustic run-out performance on Sunday, my bass trombone buddy and I discovered how loud we had been playing the last B-flats in the show - syncopated, at the very end of the show on the short little “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, encore… just about “Tannhäuser loud” …but it fit, so…

…the little version of the Christmas song with a soloist – where I switched to euphonium towards the end… about 0% as nerve-racking on the run-out, because everything could be heard in real time, and - the horns being only 30 feet away, instead of 50 feet away…and their sound previously bouncing off the back of the hall - I could tell precisely where to place all the beginnings of all my sounds…and - with the MD about thirty feet closer to me at the run-out - he actually noticed my little euphonium “simple phrase” , and gave me a wink and nod.

Wait say what? Orchestras are mic'ed and amplified? I thought those mics were just for the radio broadcasts.

[Three Valves]

This is outrageous!!