Seating layout in NCH

sth

Hello,

Can anyone please tell me if the stalls seats in the NCH are tiered? I am trying to decide whether first / second row in the yellow balcony will give me better view than being in the middle of the stalls.

Thanks,
sth

Doshea3

The stalls are all flat until about row L when they begin to slope up a little. The best seats in the stalls are in the centre of row S. They are usually about the same price as the yellow balcony. Front of yellow balcony is grand I recall (though the back won't give you too much of a view), though these are often reserved for VIPs.

sth

Thanks for your prompt advice. I am glad I asked as I was about to purchase seats in row F. I will go for S now.

Doshea3

You're welcome!:)

I feel like I'm slowly becoming the Classical Forum oracle.

banquo

''Becoming'' ?!

Clinker

Doshea3 wrote: »

The stalls are all flat until about row L when they begin to slope up a little. The best seats in the stalls are in the centre of row S.

I prefer not to be so close to the balcony: I find the sound is best in the centre of M to P: sloping, but well forward of the balcony.

electrogrimey

I personally prefer the side balcony (forget what colour it is) to the middle of the stalls, as I believe that being able to see the players adds to the enjoyment, and the sound is more or less the same everywhere.

Clinker

electrogrimey wrote: »

I personally prefer the side balcony (forget what colour it is) to the middle of the stalls, as I believe that being able to see the players adds to the enjoyment, and the sound is more or less the same everywhere.

I completely disagree: I have sat there and I find it gives a weird perspective to the sound which I don't like at all. It is nice to have a clearer view of the players, but the NCH is such a small hall that you are very close to the players in the stalls: admittedly the strings are in the way of the winds and percussion, so you can't see them so well!

I was at Mahler 2 in the Salle Pleyel in Paris, which is a really vast hall, a few months ago and it was an utterly different experience from the Mahler 2 in the NCH in May. The Salle Pleyel was great for the sense of vastness, of dying, time coming to an end and being resurrected, but the NCH gave it great impact and directness.

tatoo

Anyone recommend the choir balcony ?
What's it like soundwise ?
The sit anywhere aspect of it appeals to me.

Dirigent

tatoo wrote: »

Anyone recommend the choir balcony ?
What's it like soundwise ?
The sit anywhere aspect of it appeals to me.

It's OK for an orchestral performance, but any soloists (particularly singers) will be all but inaudible. And the seats are bloody hard and vertically upright!!!

tatoo

Thanks for that,
I'm hoping to get to Horslips with the NCH orchestra at the end of August so I'd reckon the sound there should be spot-on so,
no problem putting up with hard seats as ling as they're not too low - I've bulging discs unfortunately.

horslips

I'm not sure if they would work for Horslips and the NCH Orch. but I find the last two rows have excellent sound for orchestras. They are only partial rows because the sound box is in the middle but I think the sound is amazing in there. A few colleagues I have spoken to agree with me. Can be cheaper as well on some occasions.

For Horslips, I have gone for row P or thereabouts on the first night and front row (directly in front of where Johnny should be standing, by my guess) on the second night.

MaurMaurMaur

Clinker wrote: »

I prefer not to be so close to the balcony: I find the sound is best in the centre of M to P: sloping, but well forward of the balcony.

Just from experience the sound is best on the front and centre for just about everything. Yes, I am full on. :rolleyes: