Sir Terrence
Active Member
According to acoustics experts including Leo Beranek the best room for listening to music in the USA is Boston Symphony Hall. It's one of the three best in the world. The other two are Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and Musikiverein in Vienna. There's also a very fine one in Tokyo. Von Karajan preferred Boston to Musikverein. The best opera house in the world is in Buenos Aires Argentina. At least this is what the experts say.
Boston Symphony Hall was the result of among other things the efforts of Wallace Sabine, the father of the science of acoustics. One day I'll have to make a pilgramage there to hear what makes it so special. The best designs for concert halls are supposedly "shoeboxes." Fan shaped halls are less favored because among other things their shape doesn't promote early lateral reflections reaching the audience.
Having been to all three, and recorded concerts in two of them, I agree with this opinion. Disney Concert Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Gewandhaus in Germany, Concertgebouw in Amersterdam, and Musikverein and Konzerthouse in Vienna are all places I have been or recorded in. All have fabulous acoustics.