My company worked with the predecessor of this system (before the design was acquired by Meyer) at the Plaza Theater in El Paso, TX. My experience there was that the system, once it was electronically balanced in the room by the manufacturer, required further adjustment with orchestra to achieve the best results. Whether this fine tuning was done at Zellerback, I don’t really know.

Thanks for the listening input on your seating locations in Disney.

I heard a program that included a Sibelius symphony and Salonen’s Wing on Wing from the Terrace, and I remember that amazing clarity of sound very well, also how audible everything was. The two sopranos in the Salonen sing from different locations in the hall and at one point, I heard their footsteps on the stairs quite clearly even though they were far away. So I guess you could say I did not hear an appreciable difference between the Terrace and Orchestra East. The only problem I heard in the hall was a very slight echo when I was in Orch. East and there was some bounce from the winds at the far side of the orchestra from me. However, it was minor compared to the amount of bounce when you’re near the walls in the orchestra seating of War Memorial Opera House. That is pretty distracting.

Wonderful!!

Getting carried away seems to be part of the conductor’s job description in some quarters. However, watching Strauss conduct his pieces (not to mention his published admonitions to young conductors) gives a clue as to what is really necessary.

I have also sat in Orchestra East at Disney and I think these are among the best seats. What are your thoughts about the Terrace in comparison?

I am sorry to say that I am totally unfamiliar with Zellerback (and its enhancement system.)

I have sat in Disney in Orchestra East, which is on one of the long walls, and in the Terrace. I’ve heard both chamber music and the orchestra from Orch. East, full orchestra only from the Terrace.

Any thoughts on Zellerbach?

Arabella should always sound clear and balanced. Of course this becomes much easier to accomplish when the orchestra players faithfully execute Strauss’ finely-tuned dynamic markings. You might be surprised how many don’t and get a little “carried away”.

I am curious: Where do you usually sit at Disney? Do you have a favorite section? I have sat in five different parts of the hall thus far (haven’t tried the upper balcony yet) and the sound is very different at each location.

-Chris

My limited experience of Dohnanyi (a magnificent performance of Arabella at Covent Garden) is that his personal sound emphasizes clarity and balance, so I wonder how that interacted with Disney. My less limited experience of Disney is that it has considerable warmth as well as clarity.