Seats at the Concertgebouw

Bob Harper

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Jan 14, 2012, 3:02:03 PM1/14/12

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We're planning to be in Amsterdam for Harnoncourt's Missa Lolemnis in
4/25. There aren't many seats left, and many are 'limited visibility',
but that doesn't bother us. It's sound that matters.

There are seats at the extreme front (row 3 or 4), and at the very back
of the hall. there are also a few seats in the rear balcony at the far
left with the view cut off by the seating in front of them.

Any advice from those familiar appreciated. We were there once before,
in the north balcony with not much of a view, but the sound was fabulous.

TIA.

Bob Harper

herman

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Jan 14, 2012, 3:22:42 PM1/14/12

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I would not take the front row seats. Perhaps the balcony seats would
be the best.

M forever

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Jan 14, 2012, 3:39:49 PM1/14/12

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I have only been to the CG a few times so I don't have much experience
with sitting in various places, but I would never sit in the front
rows in a hall with such a high podium. When I go to a live concert, I
want to see something, too, not just stare at a wooden wall for 2h.
Besides, I doubt the sound in the very front is really that good since
you get very little direct sound form most of the orchestra - do you
have any experience with sitting in the very front there?

I looked at the website and found they also sell some tickets on the
podium. Yes - that would mean sitting behind the choir but while sound
balance wise, that may not be ideal, I have found that it is usually
surprisingly little of a problem in halls with good acoustics as a lot
of the sound comes back from the hall. I have sat behind the orchestra
(and also behind the choir) in the Philharmonie in Berlin on many
occasions and it worked, if not ideally well, still much better than
one would expect. But OTOH, one is close to the "action" and one sees
and hears a lot of detail in the orchestra, too.
What do you think? How does it work in the Concertgebouw? I have sat
on the podium there once, on the far left, and it worked very well,
but that was not a choral concert.

Roland van Gaalen

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Jan 14, 2012, 3:49:48 PM1/14/12

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I don't like sitting in the front rows. I would slightly prefer the balcony seats to the ones in the back of the hall. I tend to like podium seats -- good accoustics and a nice view.
--
Roland van Gaalen
Amsterdam
r.p.vangaalenATchello.nl

Dufus

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Jan 14, 2012, 4:18:57 PM1/14/12

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On Jan 14, 2:02 pm, Bob Harper <bob.har...@comcast.net> wrote:

In 1970, I sat in the very front row, about 3-4 seats over from a side
exit door. For the Bloch "Schelomo" and LvB 7th Symphony, Leinsdorf
conducting. As M Forever says, a wooden wall, could not see much if
any of the cellist, sound came from behind me actually. But, I had
lots of room for my legs ! Go back, young man.

Dufus

Bob Harper

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Jan 14, 2012, 4:49:11 PM1/14/12

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Thanks to all who responded. I decided on the balcony left side.
'Limited visibility', but from the website view not bad at all, and I'm
sure the sound will be excellent.

Bob Harper

Gerard

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Jan 14, 2012, 4:56:04 PM1/14/12

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M forever <ms1...@gmail.com> typed:

Very well.

Thornhill

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Jan 14, 2012, 5:08:56 PM1/14/12

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Good choice. I've have been to the Concertgebouw a number of times and
have always felt that the best sound is up in the balcony.

Tim Haricots

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Jan 14, 2012, 5:27:29 PM1/14/12

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I had several times seats with "limited visibility" where I managed to
see quite a few things :-)

For one of the most memorable concerts I ever heard in the
Concertgebouw, Bernstein conducting Mahler 4, I was seated on one of
the last rows behind a pillar. It didn't bother me in the slightest
since the sound was still fabulous. I was just grateful to be there.

TH

pianomaven

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Jan 14, 2012, 5:57:31 PM1/14/12

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Indeed.

I think you chose well.

For the Mahler cycle years ago I sat in "Philips seats" in the centre
of the balcony. Having sat elsewhere in that hall I think these are by
far the best seats in the house. They provide a beautiful sonic
perspective.

The orchestra seats are also good, but close-up is a problem for me.
Too much is simply too loud to enjoy properly. And If you're on the
right side, you simply have the sound of double basses scratching away
on their instruments. Hard to hear the Amsterdam winds from such a
position. Ditto for the left side, where you just hear the first
violins.

Of course this depends somewhat on orchestral seating which is not
standard among orchestras.

TD