Somewhat OT: Philadelphia Orch. at Verizon Hall - Best Seats?

[Tom Brennan]

Hi all,

I am thinking of subscribing to the Philadelphia Orchestra this year
and was wondering if there was any difference in the "cheap" 3rd tier
side box seats and the 3rd or even 2nd tier seats. Basically I'm just
wondering if the sound quality improves as the price goes up due to
location etc. Also, if you know of any "good" seat types to get,
please let me know. Thanks in advance for replies.

Tom

[Eric Nagamine]

Post by Tom Brennan
Hi all,
I am thinking of subscribing to the Philadelphia Orchestra this year
and was wondering if there was any difference in the "cheap" 3rd tier
side box seats and the 3rd or even 2nd tier seats. Basically I'm just
wondering if the sound quality improves as the price goes up due to
location etc. Also, if you know of any "good" seat types to get,
please let me know. Thanks in advance for replies.
Tom

After a week of sitting through rehearsals & concerts back in February,
I thought the best seats were front and center in the tiers. The
overhang isn't as bad as other halls, but the more forward you are more
"live" the sound is. The sides may have view problems and sound balance
problems (i.e, direct sound from the celli & basses vs. indirect violin
sound)

[Paul Kintzele]

Post by Tom Brennan
Hi all,
I am thinking of subscribing to the Philadelphia Orchestra this year
and was wondering if there was any difference in the "cheap" 3rd tier
side box seats and the 3rd or even 2nd tier seats. Basically I'm just
wondering if the sound quality improves as the price goes up due to
location etc. Also, if you know of any "good" seat types to get,
please let me know. Thanks in advance for replies.

At the end of last season I attended a performance of Bruckner 7 at
Verizon Hall. The concert began with a Beethoven overture (Fidelio, I
believe), and although I was sitting in 2nd Tier center (a fairly pricey
seat) the sound was distinctly underpowered. If that's the way the hall
is going to sound from now on, I would say try something higher up (so
you get some sound rolling off the ceiling) or closer in (I've had more
or less good experiences on the orchestra level).

Paul

[Barry Zukerman]

Post by Tom Brennan
Hi all,
I am thinking of subscribing to the Philadelphia Orchestra this year
and was wondering if there was any difference in the "cheap" 3rd tier
side box seats and the 3rd or even 2nd tier seats. Basically I'm just
wondering if the sound quality improves as the price goes up due to
location etc. Also, if you know of any "good" seat types to get,
please let me know. Thanks in advance for replies.
Tom

I've sat all over the place in Verizon Hall and still have a tough
time pegging down what the best location is for sound. I was very
impressed the one time I sat in the first tier center boxes, but those
are the most expensive seats in the house. I was also very impressed a
couple times late last season when I sat near the rear of the
orchestra, close to the center. I've also had both positive and
negative experiences in both the 2nd and 3rd tier center and boxes.
The problem is that they adjust the accoustics for almost every
program, so it's almost impossible to predict what seat location will
have the best sound for any given week.
I gave up my subsription for the coming season. Because I tend to have
a fairly open schedule on Saturday afternoons and live in Center City,
I've decided it makes no sense for me to get a subscription when I can
pay $10 every week for a rush ticket and usually wind up in a better
seat that my old subscription location. After those two positive
experiences in the center rear of the orchestra, that's probably the
location I'll be requesting for my rush ticket from now on (if you're
near the front of the line, they usually give you your pick of seat
locations, especially if you're sitting alone).

Barry

[Van Eyes]

....The problem is that they adjust the accoustics for almost every
program, so it's almost impossible to predict what seat location will
have the best sound for any given week....

A musical chairs/musical joke marketing scheme, to keep the customers
guessing. heh heh

....I've decided it makes no sense for me to get a subscription when I can
pay $10 every week for a rush ticket and usually wind up in a better
seat that my old subscription location....

Pretty good advice, considering.


Regards