Cleveland area posters?

[johnferrier]

I’m interested in learning about the sonic characteristics of the Cleveland’s Masonic Auditorium. What are the acoustics like?

I’m a fan of the work of conductor Pierre Boulez who has recorded with Cleveland, Chicago, New York, London, Berlin, etc. I own about ten CDs recorded at the Masonic and find these recordings to be pure magic (IMHO). Interestingly, I find recordings from the 70's have the same magical quality. Wow, if all recordings sounded like ones at the Masonic...

Doing more listening (and comparing to other recordings), it seems to me that the key quality to the wonderful sound is the reverberation within the auditorium. Recordings capture a reverberation that is slightly warm and very natural. At the same time, though, all instruments voice evenly (nothing is distant).

Examples of amazing sounding (IMHO) recordings (conducted by Boulez):
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
Messiaen: La Ville d'en haut
Debussy: all old and new

I’ve did a Google search but only find two references that say the sound at the Masonic Auditorium is “rich”. Interestingly, I’ve found a lot more information about Cleveland’s Severance Hall (the home of the Cleveland Symphony). However, most of the Boulez/Cleveland Orchestra recordings occur at the Masonic. Except for a few early recordings, Boulez records Cleveland at the Masonic. (Other conductors still record at Severance Hall.)

Any info regarding Cleveland's Masonic Auditorium?


photo credit: Wagner Electric Sign Company


JF