I write in response to the two letters concerning the sound levels at Baycourt Theatre, namely those of R B Wyld and John Gauld. I was quite appalled not by the criticism but by the insulting and derogatory language used in both letters 'deaf idiot, bellowing cow, demented lunatic.”
I attended both performances of the Last Night of the Proms and disagree entirely with the rude criticism of Miss Cotter's performance. Did the critic not see that she was under amplification throughout the entire evening's performance and 'bellowing cow” she certainly was not at any stage! In fact, after each of those performances she was approached by members of the audience and commended for her performance, and specifically for that particular item with backing track. I know because I am her Vocal Coach.
As to the 'deaf idiot” monitoring the sound mentioned by R B Wyld – he was a Sound Specialist from Auckland with nearly twenty years experience, and very highly qualified in his craft, much sought after to design and monitor sound in the Auckland theatres, who is sent each year to the USA by his employer to upskill and is engaged each week travelling throughout NZ, training and keeping technicians here skilled to current technology standards.
RB Wyld did approach him in an aggressive manner and was advised politely that the second half would be no different in sound levels from the first half. There are two sides to every story, and I know this one as I organised that function and the technician was my son. For every '˜grizzler” at a concert – and there will always be one, there are ten more who take the time to pat the sound technician on the back and say 'Well Done”. And they are the ones who count!
Andrew Braid, Welcome Bay.