I have been recording concerts for years with my Sony MD Walkman MZ-R500 with a stereo Sony hand held mic ECM-MS907. It's compact and simple. The mini-CDs are re-recordable and cannot be scratched since they are in a protective case. I sit in a central isle seat and try to avoid rude talkers. I've burnt many a CDs off these recordings with surprising results. I would sit front and center but I like getting the ambiance of the performance hall. They may not be in production any more but would be worth a search on line.