Seats at Sydney Opera House concert hall

Bob Harper

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May 18, 2015, 1:20:17 PM5/18/15

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We're planning to take in a Sydney Symphony concert in June on our trip to Australia. Any opinions about where to sit? Gil Shahan is playing the Barber, and the big piece is the Manfred Symphony. TIA.

Bob Harper

Terry

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May 18, 2015, 8:54:43 PM5/18/15

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On Tuesday, 19 May 2015 03:20:17 UTC+10, Bob Harper wrote:
> We're planning to take in a Sydney Symphony concert in June on our trip to Australia. Any opinions about where to sit? Gil Shahan is playing the Barber, and the big piece is the Manfred Symphony. TIA.
>
> Bob Harper

There are no bad seats there, really.

Bob Harper

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May 18, 2015, 11:43:08 PM5/18/15

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Thanks. I'll save a bit of money :)

Bob Harper

Marc P.

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May 18, 2015, 11:52:37 PM5/18/15

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And Gil's demonstrative performing style should be clearly visible even in the balcony. Great program BTW, I've never heard the Manfred live.

Marc

Oscar

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May 19, 2015, 1:46:36 AM5/19/15

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Shaham playing the Barber -- sounds great! Have fun.

alan....@gmail.com

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May 19, 2015, 5:48:28 AM5/19/15

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On Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 3:20:17 AM UTC+10, Bob Harper wrote:
> We're planning to take in a Sydney Symphony concert in June on our trip to Australia. Any opinions about where to sit? Gil Shahan is playing the Barber, and the big piece is the Manfred Symphony. TIA.
>
> Bob Harper

While none of the seats are really bad, there are definitely some that are much better than others. In general (no surprise) the cheaper ones (say Circle rows Q and higher) are further from the music, and so have sound that is less present as well as views that make the musicians look more distant. The distance effect is more of a concern with a soloist or chamber orchestra, than for a symphony.

The "circle boxes" (A,B,C and U, V, W) at the side of the auditorium are wonderful; even right at the back of the box, you see and hear really clearly. The front rows of the circle are also really good places to be. The "platform boxes" D,E,F and X, Y, Z are variable; you are side-on to the orchestra and sometimes the balance is not great. I generally found the middle of the stalls to not be worth the premuim price that is often charged, compared to say front of circle or the circle boxes.

Alan

Bob Harper

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May 19, 2015, 5:01:25 PM5/19/15

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Thanks for the detailed reply. I've booked two seats at the left end of the front row of Box C. Looking forward to the concert (and to the first grandchild who is the prime cause for the trip:) ).

Bob Harper

graham

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May 19, 2015, 7:11:14 PM5/19/15

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On 19/05/2015 3:01 PM, Bob Harper wrote:
>
> Thanks for the detailed reply. I've booked two seats at the left end of the front row of Box C. Looking forward to the concert (and to the first grandchild who is the prime cause for the trip:) ).
>
> Bob Harper
>

I love my sons, that's a given, but nothing prepared me for the love I
feel for my grandchildren - and there are two more (twins) arriving in
October:-)
Graham

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