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Looking for help with Metropolitan Opera seats

post #1 of 24
7/30/07 at 6:44pm
Thread Starter 
I have been the to the Met only once, in ridiculously good orchestra seats that someone I knew could not use. I'm looking to get some tickets for this coming season, but budgets being budgets, blah blah blah. I can't afford where I sat, not by a long shot, and want to see as much as possible in reasonably acceptable seats. Anyway, is there a tremendously noticeable difference between the "Family Circle Front" and "Balcony" or "Orchestra Rear" seats? Are we talking Kenneth Cole to Loake here, or C&J, or what? Also, how are the "Family Circle Front" seats? Awful and insufferable? Sufferably bad? Not good but the performance is still enjoyable? A deal? I know there are some met-frequenters here and your help would be appreciated. Thanks!
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post #2 of 24
7/31/07 at 3:24pm
Thread Starter 
Any input opera fans? Other options include Balcony, Dress Circle, or Grand Tier Boxes (all partial view).
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post #3 of 24
7/31/07 at 3:37pm
Acoustically, I was very surprised how well I could hear everything up in the balcony (seeing however, is another thing entirely).

koji
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post #4 of 24
7/31/07 at 3:39pm
As a NY Philharmonic fan, I can say that the closer you are to the front, the better. So I would prefer First Tier Box to orchestra rear, even though there is a slight unbalance in sound. Since visuals are also important, I would say that it is harder to see from the Orchestra rear than from a First or Second Tier box or whatever the equivalent would be at the Met.
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post #5 of 24
8/1/07 at 5:09pm
I saw The National Chorale perform Beethoven's 9th a few months ago and sat in the 3rd row. I would have much rather sat in the front orchestra boxes and look down and see everything rather than up at the conductor and front 4 singers.
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post #6 of 24
8/1/07 at 5:33pm
Get Grand Tier or Dress Circle. I woundn't recommend side boxes. I second Koji that Balcony has awesome accoustic, I think it has something to do with the sound bouncing off the ceiling directly at you.
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post #7 of 24
8/1/07 at 10:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by von Rothbart View Post
Get Grand Tier or Dress Circle. I woundn't recommend side boxes. I second Koji that Balcony has awesome accoustic, I think it has something to do with the sound bouncing off the ceiling directly at you.

Agreed. Orchestra is my least favorite place to sit.
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post #8 of 24
8/1/07 at 11:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by von Rothbart View Post
Get Grand Tier or Dress Circle. I woundn't recommend side boxes. I second Koji that Balcony has awesome accoustic, I think it has something to do with the sound bouncing off the ceiling directly at you.

We should sue these companies for calling the location Dress Circle and yet where is the dress? Orphaned tuxedo jackets with brown belts dress? I think not.

Family Circle sounds like an adventure.
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post #9 of 24
8/4/07 at 2:05pm
Don't know about Family circle, but it would seem balcony offers the best value. Remember, both the Met and City Opera offer discounts on subscriptions, and prices are lower on weeknight performances.
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post #10 of 24
8/5/07 at 4:19pm
Jamison-

The audio is really very nice in Family Circle. I bring binoculars for close up views of particular singers. Even if I could afford it, I would prefer not to be in the Orchestra since the higher levels give a more panaromic view.
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post #11 of 24
8/5/07 at 4:22pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks, everyone. I put in for family circle front with some others as backup. Dress circle would be great, but at four times the price, it's not an option right now.
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post #12 of 24
8/6/07 at 7:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chorse123 View Post
Thanks, everyone. I put in for family circle front with some others as backup. Dress circle would be great, but at four times the price, it's not an option right now.

Did you get season tickets?

koji
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post #13 of 24
8/6/07 at 7:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thracozaag View Post
Did you get season tickets?

koji

Yep, though I haven't had my seats assigned yet. 8 operas over eight months.
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post #14 of 24
8/6/07 at 9:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chorse123 View Post
Yep, though I haven't had my seats assigned yet. 8 operas over eight months.

Wow, I'm VERY jealous--enjoy the performances!

koji
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post #15 of 24
9/1/08 at 3:56pm
Thread revival to ask more questions. I will be in NYC Thanksgiving weekend and would like to see Tristan und Isolde at the Met. I would likely be content with the balcony since I am more interested in sound quality, but the other people I am with will be more interested in sight lines. What is the difference from a visual standpoint between the dress circle and the balcony? So far it looks like I can get 3rd or 4th row in either section.

And since it is a 5 hour opera, is there any legroom/comfort difference between those two sections? Some halls I have been in the leg room gets smaller in the cheaper seats.

thanks much

mike
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