I attended this evening, sat on the orchestra floor seat Z15.
It sounds much better. Warmer, louder, and more intimate. It is quite live, and brass notes ring in the hall for a half second after the musicians stop blowing. But it doesn’t get muddy-I think it strikes a good balance. The only instrument that bugged me a little was the open piano at the front of the stage (piano concerto). Sounded a bit harsh/reflective in the range just above treble clef.
Visually, there is a LOT of diffusion, but much less absorption. The surfaces in the front half of the hall (stage and sides) are all hard-wood and angled for diffusing. The ceiling has visible diffusing panels for the first third of the hall (can’t really tell how absorbent) and what look like metal cages coming down for the last two-thirds. The only thing that bugged me is that the overhangs don’t appear to have absorption. I’ve had some problems with that, mostly with amplified music. You will see some hard flat surfaces in the photos. They all angle upwards. The ones that angle towards the audience have much more contour until you get to the back third of the hall.
So overall, on the ‘wet’ side, surprisingly so. But still clear and easy to hear individual instruments.
