nomad1001

Hi. I'm getting my husband tickets to see the Pops & Dave Brubeck (his favorite jazz musician - he missed seeing him the last time he was in town) for his bday/father's day.

Looking for advice on seating. We've been there before, but I don't remember our seats.

I think we'd like balcony, more toward the center.

I know about the overhang issue, but it's not easy to tell (or remember) which rows are affected. If we're in First Balcony Center, rows D, E, & G have seats available & the side sections have rows C & higher.

Second Balcony has D (left Center section) and E, F, G, & higher on both the left & right center sections (however, most of the available seats are on the end of these sections, furthest from the actual center.

I'd appreciate any advice you may have since we haven't been there for a while. Thanks!

yk

There's no overhang over any of the second balcony seats (center or sides).

First balcony is also flush with second balcony, so unless you're sitting in the first row or 2, you'd be below the overhang.

The first balcony sides are also flush with second balcony sides, but I've never sat there so I can't tell if acoutics is a problem there. Probably not Row A, but not sure about Row C.

yk

Sorry, when I wrote "sides", I was thinking of the 2 long arms on either side of the hall. However, re-reading your question, I think you were inquiring about the "side" sections of the main balcony area.

If it were me, I'd probably go for the second balcony seats. However, if you want to be a bit closer, then I'd go for Row C on the first balcony "sides".

Hopefully china_cat will see this and can chime in as well.

Nikki

You really said chime in?

For my money, the very best seats in Symphony Hall are the side seats all the way in front on the first balcony on the left as you face the stage. You can see the conductor's face and read the music on the piano. But these are hard to get. I have a friend who has subscribed for a hundred years and we have used those seats and I am spoiled.

nomad1001

yk - yes,I meant the side sections of the center balcony (opposite the stage). I'm sorry for the confusion - I was distracted by a 3-yr-old (who, although he loves music, is not quite ready to sit through an evening after his bedtime).

Nikki - The 2nd row (B) is available in that section, but A & C are sold out. Thanks for the tip though - we'll keep that in mind for the future.

yk

Now I'm wondering what the heck I'm doing wrong. I'm on the POPS website and I can't get much of anything to load at all! This page http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/complete...d=bcat13020005
is supposed to show the Spring POPS schedule, but all I get is a blank screen?!?! Perhaps the POPS don't want my attendance?

nomad1001

My husband had trouble getting onto the site to see the details of the performance earlier today, but was able to access it later in the day. There WAS a feature article on the Pops & their anniversary year in today's Boston Globe so traffic may be higher than usual. I hope you can get in soon!

yk

nomad, that's good to know. Now I'm on the calendar view, but all the dates are empty not showing any concerts! http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/content_...id=bcat5220107

Nikki

Nomad, nothing wrong with row B in the first balcony way on the side. Great seats.

nomad1001

I was wrong - row B is in the second balcony; in first balcony by the stage, they only have row C. My husband thinks he prefers the center sections opposite the stage (he doesn't want to have to turn his head all night LOL) but if the side seats are far superior to the center balcony (center/left or center/right as described in my original post), i might be able to convince him.

Nikki

Row C in the first balcony is where I have sat. No head turning involved, if I recall. But if your husband prefers the center, I don't want to be blamed. Which seat numbers?

china_cat

The best acoustics in Symphony hall are the 2nd balcony in the center. Of course, you can't see as well from there, because you are pretty far away, but the sound will be perfect. Nikki's right about the best view, I think. So if seeing Brubeck's face is important, you might go for something down the side, closer to the stage.

I can't think of any reason the 1st balcony side seats would be better than 2nd balcony center. Those seats in row b second balcony are pretty close to where I sat the last time I was in Symphony hall a month ago, and they were fine.

For Pops, I really prefer balcony over orchestra (though you didn't mention orchestra or mezzanine) because the table seating on the floor lends itself to people being noisier with drinks and such.

yk

FWIW, after failing to get to the POPS website on 3 different computers & 3 different operating systems last night (the site loads but no concerts are listed), we sent off an email to POPS last night. They wrote back and said they would inform the IT folks; and now it's been fixed.

yk

nomad, I want to thank you for starting this thread. While I go to many BSO concerts, I don't follow the POPS, and hence didn't realize Dave Brubeck is playing until I saw your post. DH is a huge fan too, so we now have tickets for the concert.

FWIW, the ticket agent told me that the piano will be set up towards the L side of the stage (as you face the stage). Therefore, it may be difficult to see him/piano from the Left "arm" of the balconies without leaning way forward.

nomad1001

glad i could help! We've had a busy week with a few unexpected events so we are still ticketless...and indecisive!

So you're saying that the absolute center of either balcony or something on the right side would be best.

Current options are:
1st balcony center section Rows D & higher
1st balcony right center section (on the corner) - aisles in row B (just next to the start of the side seating) & Rows D & higher

2nd balcony (right center section)Row A, seats 1&2 [seats behind this in row B are obstructed view so i wondered if these had issues too)

OR Row E in the same section (many seats)

2nd balcony center - rows D & higher

I hope I can get them today!

yk

Why not call the BSO box office and ask for their recommendation? You have to pay a ticketing fee regardless if you purchase online or by phone. Of course, if you go to the box office in person, you can ask them face-to-face AND save the fees.

ejachilles

Thanks for the great thread! I was looking for good seats for the Pops, and this was very helpful.

I'm just wondering, though...does anyone know what kind of food is served at the table seating at Pop's concerts?

Thanks again for the info!

yk

ejachillies, here's the link to the POPS Kitchen http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/toc_01_g...d=bcat11630171

You can download the menu from that page.