BB-8

That car (from Germany) also shows a green badge with a large 4 which is related to fine particle emission. "The environmental badge was introduced on March 1st, 2007 and has been mandatory for all cars, trucks and buses in the German environmental zones since January 1st, 2008. Depending on the EURO class, the particulate matter sticker was divided into 3 different colours, red, yellow and green. The rules of the now more than 80 zones have been tightened step by step, so that in almost all German cities only entry with the green environmental sticker is allowed." Google-translated German text from Umwelt-Plakette.de – Green-Zones.eu The red badge shows no writing and remains a mystery.

Hang on, were these pics taken before or after Vienna? I have only just recovered from Vienna and that 90-year-old has already been in the recording studio testing a celeste. No jet-lag, nothing? Maybe I need to rethink my pace of life...

The fandom menace

Only if they rip the direct-to-disc recording onto a digital media. But as far as I've understood, this is not the point. Vinyl copies are made directly from the master disc. Some conductors (Hrusa, Haitink) have even signed the master discs in the middle - so you would get a copy of that signature too. I honestly cannot imagine that they did a live direct-to-disc. But the red light and mic during rehearsals could mean that they did some direct-to-disc takes before the concert (without the distraction from the audience). That coat is at least 20 years old.

I also don't really see the advantage. It seems to be quite a hassle getting everything right. On the other hand the method does not allow any editing. So if they have recorded JW speeches as well they will be complete with "the warts and all". Direct-to-disc recording - Wikipedia Someone did detect a tape recorder and maybe they also had some digital back-up...who knows?

If DG release this, which is rather likely, then they could do various packages with CD only and/or limited numbered direct-to-disc vinyl editions etc., etc., etc. etc.,...

Below image was posted on Emil Berliner Studios' Instagram-account. Note the same door, water bottles, chair, collapsable tables, etc. There is a direct-to-disc turntable to be seen (behind the lady with headphones). Oh joy!

Found some press photos of the "Imperial March" here: https://www.imago-images.de/fotos-bilder?suchtext=John+Williams+komponist&suchselect=&datum1=&datum2=&datumsbereich=01.01.1753&premfil=&ausrichtung=alle&ausrichtung=hoch&ausrichtung=quer&ausrichtung=quadrat&release=alle&thumbsAnzeige=off&gal_start=1&tokenName=JcwnjATwep&tokenValue=ySapvMD56F6bxsdZje4RA049ScJHOIYa5dxnmXFwgd2fnqYQVCS1rw7tSk1Xp4m0&suchtyp=100&sortEs=0&seite=1

Looks rather hectical.

There may be a horn vacancy in Vienna soon. ;-)

The final encore was already showing up here. 12th March 2022

Strange that no one nominated Maestro Oma Tres as favourite character.

Nice to hear him confirm that there are short references to Tintin-like phrases in the violin concerto. I noticed that during the Vienna concerts and was wondering whether it was just my imagination. "And with a Nadel direct to disc."

As already mentioned elsewhere, these signs on the door could have been historical and not related to the current activities inside and in front of the room. The red lamp on the dress-rehearsal stage, however, very strongly suggests that recording activities were going on. As for the mic, possibly JW could indicate "excellent gents - next piece please" or "sorry gents, inacceptable horn flubs, once again please and a little less forced this time" - and the Emil Berliner nerds would wop on the next lacquer disc, keeping their fingers and toes crossed.

But it is possible to rip a direct-to-disc recording onto digital media - of course you miss the analogue cult aspect by doing this. Wasn't Morricone's "Hateful Eight" done like that: a direct-to-disc recording (with presumably some limited direct copies for the freaks) and a digi-rip for Joe Blogs?

Well, freaking out in a positive sense that they were possibly doing independent recording sessions with the Vienna Phil before the concerts - maybe this was just to create sufficient back-up material for the live takes of the concerts (to repair e.g. horn flubs). However, a red light plus director's mic indicates that there was a requirement for real-time interaction between recording team and the ensemble. With the red light looking exactly like the one Emil Berliner Studios use (which take commissions from various record labels including DG) it is likely that a dedicated recording is in the pipeline - not just an archival document that may or may not be released.

What really made me freak out was the red light (and mic) on the Vienna stage in the footage between interview sections:

I agree. The same red light was also showing during the Emil Berliner Studio / Accentus production of Smetana's Ma Vlast in Bamberg. This tech really looks like something bought off a sand crawler. ;-) Smetana: Má vlast – Direct-to-disc recording, Limited edition – Bamberger Symphoniker, Jakub Hrůša | ACCENTUS Music It's just fun speculating!

Excellent, thanks! I see a red light!

That door could be a prop for Tatooine. Real shabby chic!

Thanks! Good evidence that it was properly recorded. I had to go for a slash so didn't manage any interval research.

Was this photo taken in the Musikverein? Really?