
From Stage to Studio
Performances versus Recordings in Classical Music
Amy Blier-Carruthers(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 21. April 2025
Book
Hardback
286 pages
978-0-367-48575-7 (ISBN)
Description
From Stage to Studio: Performances versus Recordings in Classical Music presents a cultural study of classical music-making through the analysis of live and studio performances of orchestral and operatic repertoire conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras.
The close listening analysis is based on detailed research into Mackerras's private collection of over 600 reel-to-reel and cassette tapes containing recordings of over 1,000 live performances which he conducted between the 1950s and the late 1990s. This is contextualized with evidence collected during ethnographic fieldwork observations, presenting the opinions of Sir Charles, orchestral musicians from major London orchestras and opera houses with whom he was working with during the first decade of the twenty-first century (Philharmonia, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Royal Opera House, English National Opera), and production team members working for recording industry leaders (such as Decca, EMI, and Chandos). This ethnography of classical music-making gives a voice to performers and music professionals, brings to light some important and heretofore hidden issues, and explores a fascinating time of intense change in the recording industry.
Including consideration of ways forward for performance, education, and recording, this book is relevant to specialist practitioners, as well as music enthusiasts interested in concert life and recording studio habits, professional performers, recordists, music students, educators, and scholars interested in classical music.
The close listening analysis is based on detailed research into Mackerras's private collection of over 600 reel-to-reel and cassette tapes containing recordings of over 1,000 live performances which he conducted between the 1950s and the late 1990s. This is contextualized with evidence collected during ethnographic fieldwork observations, presenting the opinions of Sir Charles, orchestral musicians from major London orchestras and opera houses with whom he was working with during the first decade of the twenty-first century (Philharmonia, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Royal Opera House, English National Opera), and production team members working for recording industry leaders (such as Decca, EMI, and Chandos). This ethnography of classical music-making gives a voice to performers and music professionals, brings to light some important and heretofore hidden issues, and explores a fascinating time of intense change in the recording industry.
Including consideration of ways forward for performance, education, and recording, this book is relevant to specialist practitioners, as well as music enthusiasts interested in concert life and recording studio habits, professional performers, recordists, music students, educators, and scholars interested in classical music.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Postgraduate
Illustrations
2 s/w Abbildungen, 2 s/w Zeichnungen, 18 s/w Tabellen
18 Tables, black and white; 2 Line drawings, black and white; 2 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
619 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-367-48575-7 (9780367485757)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
approx. 07/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€57.50
Not yet published

E-Book
04/2025
1st Edition
Routledge
€60.99
Available for download

E-Book
04/2025
1st Edition
Routledge
€60.99
Available for download
Person
Amy Blier-Carruthers is Postgraduate Research Programme Leader at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Senior Lecturer in Music Performance (Education) at King's College London, and Research Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music.
Content
List of figures
Acknowledgements
CHAPTER 1 From stage to studio
CHAPTER 2 Live performance versus studio recording
CHAPTER 3 In the studio
CHAPTER 4 On the stage
CHAPTER 5 Variable performance traits
CHAPTER 6 Educational applications - Learning to perform in the studio
CHAPTER 7 Final edit - Towards an aesthetic emancipation and some ways forward
Appendices
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
CHAPTER 1 From stage to studio
CHAPTER 2 Live performance versus studio recording
CHAPTER 3 In the studio
CHAPTER 4 On the stage
CHAPTER 5 Variable performance traits
CHAPTER 6 Educational applications - Learning to perform in the studio
CHAPTER 7 Final edit - Towards an aesthetic emancipation and some ways forward
Appendices
Bibliography