
These spots are nice for date nights or for new symphony-goers because the intensity of the experience is lower. Sitting farther back, to the side, or in a less-dense section of the hall will make for a more relaxed experience. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing evening out or to be fully enraptured in the experience of live orchestral music makes a big difference. The experience you want to have is the final indicator of where you should sit. Again, if sound quality is your primary concern, then you’ll probably want to head for the middle of the hall. For most people, the differences in sound around the hall are not noticeable unless you are in the far extremes like the front or last rows. Since each hall is different, this one may take some experimentation.
Boston opera house seat views full#
You will also lose some details as the sound blends together more, especially if the hall is particularly reverberant, but this is sometimes the best place to sit for large pieces with a full orchestra and choir. If you want the full view of sitting farther back, then you may find that the brass and percussion are more prominent, or that the overall loudness of the orchestra is a bit less. If you want a detailed view or really love string instruments, this balance will be great for you. Here the strings usually dominate because you’re closer to them, and the woodwinds may be a bit quieter. If you’re going for the detailed view in the first few rows, then some sounds from the orchestra will be more prominent than others. The technician or the lights may be a slight distraction, but most halls will orient their sound booths in the optimal listening area. Even better, find out where the sound booth is in the hall and sit near it. If you’re a sound junkie, then usually going for the expensive seats will provide a good blend of the full orchestra’s sound and view. This is where the consideration of price comes into more effect. The sound of each hall in different spots will be different, though, so it’s not easy to generalize. The orchestra is an audible organization, after all. Sound is obviously an important factor for your best orchestra seats. See which views you find more interesting than others. Next time you’re at the hall, take a few minutes before the concert to walk to all the different sections. It’s always a different experience to see and hear the full orchestra together in front of you versus sitting just below the incredible musicians on stage to see their fingers and their faces up close.

Try sitting in the last row, then try sitting in the first row. Since the orchestra is such a diverse group of instruments and the range of views is so vast, it’s exciting to experiment with different ways to see everybody. With a piano soloist, sitting slightly to the left will allow you to see their hands dancing across the keys, while sitting slightly to the right will allow you to see their face and their expressions better. If you do this, then you’ll also be sitting up close for the entire concert. I like to sit up close to see every detail of the soloist’s performance. If there is a soloist playing with the orchestra, your choice of seating has an even bigger impact on what you can see and hear. The music fills the hall, but your eyes are stuck on your head. While your seating does affect the sound of the orchestra, the impact is not nearly as drastic as the different views you can get.

The most important factor for many people is the view you’ll have for the concert. So, let’s dig into these three factors and see what speaks to you. So, seats in the middle are more expensive and seats to the sides, front, and back are less expensive.īut this assumes that you want a standard view, sound, and experience at the symphony. Most people want to sit in the middle, fewer people want to sit on the sides, way up front, or way to the back. What’s important to know is that most halls will design their prices based on the popularity of the seats. The sound there tends to be a little worse and the view is more extreme. The cheapest seats are usually found in the front and last rows or far off to the side. The sound there tends to be a little better and the view is pretty good. The most expensive seats are usually found in the middle of the hall.

It all depends on the view, sound, and experience you want. The most expensive seats in a hall could be the best or the worst seats for you.
