I'd like to buy two tickets for the opera in October. I've read the other threads on this topic, but a few questions remain:

1) the price is the same for the loggina and the galleria; I assume the loggina is better? (I realize we'll be in the rafters no matter which we choose);

2) but...each section has several price options, and there seems to be some overlap between prices/sections -- so the Palci Laterati (the Orchestra?) has prices that ange from 88 Euros down to 23 Euros; the Galleria has 23, 11, and others; the Loggina has 23, 41, and others, etc. I'm thinking the 41Euro seats in the Loggina might be reasonably good?;

3) at some point, when I was tooting around the La Fenice website, I could swear I saw something about an 18% surcharge per ticket purchased online. Is that correct?

Aaargh. Hope these questions haven't been answered a million times before -- and I hope they're understandable. I'm confused. (Can you tell?)

Thank you!!

What's being performed?

ttt
did not disappear - click on your name to find old posts

Dukey: Thais (Massenet).

Tempusfugit: Duh. I did a search for my name instead of just clicking on it. Did I say "duh"? Oh well -- I'm happy I'm still here. I was afraid I'd violated a rule or something.

I saw an opera at La Fenice last year. I got my tickets online at the La Fenice WEB site.

1) Which is better? It is not simple to describe. Because of the partitions, each seating arrangement is VERY deep. Consequently the lateral seats have severe viewing problems - both angle and the height. It is as if people went there to do something other than to watch operas. The top most seating is like hitting against the ceiling of the theater. Even if you find seats near the center at loggia or galleria, you are still not guaranteed to be able to see the stage - unless you got seats next to the handrail. Otherwise you are at a mercy of the kindness of those who got seats in front of you to allow you to see the stage.

2) I think the price is roughly proportional to the ability to see the stage. The border of what has been sold and whats left is best you can purchase. The Palci Laterati are still partitioned boxes.

3) I paid 18% "un diritto di servizio." with my ticket. Is this an online charge? I don't know. But waiting to see if I could have bought the tickets after getting to Venice was not an option -- the performance was sold out.

Thanks, Greg. I just went back to the site and plugged in my preferences. Unfortunately, it looks as if the only tickets left are the cheapest ones in the Galleria (12E) and the Palci Lateratie (23E). And I can't even book until tonight at the earliest, because I don't have my passport at work with me. (Silly me.) And if the seats really are *that* bad (made worse by the fact that I'm short)...Unless, of course, we just go for it and do whatever those other people did who went there, as you say, for something other than the opera. Hmmm.....

At any rate, thanks for your quick and detailed reply.

The reason I asked about the offering is (for me, anyway) it sometimes depends on the offering re how close to the stage I think I just have to be.

Anyway, enjoy...sounds great and I am sure the "Meditation" will sound wonderful.

We once got two of the last 6 seats for a premier of Attila with Sam Ramey. While buying the tickets we were befriended by an Italian from Naples who had the seats next to us. To see the opera we had to stand up and literally hang on (I forget exactly to what - Anyhow, there we were hanging on, Sam finished his first big aria, the Italian said: "Hey.. your guy is really good!"... and gave my husband a nudge that nearly knocked him off his feet. Great fun.