Acoustic quality of theatres: correlations between experimental measures and subjective evaluations

Abstract This paper deals with the psychoacoustic correlations between physical parameters and subjective aspects of perception of music in theatres. Many acoustic parameters were experimentally measured in eight Italian theatres and halls, including the Milanese Teatro Alla Scala, the Teatro Comunale in Bologna and the Teatro Comunale in Florence. A questionnaire was distributed, gathering almost 200 responses from well-known musicians (such as Riccardo Chailly, Severino Gazzelloni, Claudio Scimone and Uto Ughi). The results were compared and statistically analysed. Some interesting linear correlations were found between the physical acoustic parameters and the subjective evaluations. Finally, a short questionnaire, suitable for further psychoacoustic analysis was obtained.

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