shoefly

I've never been before, and I'm thinking about buying tickets. Does anybody know anything about the layout inside? The seats are listed as:

Orchestra Premium $275 SOLD OUT
Orchestra Prime $175
Orchestra Balance $100
Orchestra Rear $80
Center Parterre Premium $375 SOLD OUT
Center Parterre Boxes $320 SOLD OUT
Side Parterre Boxes $110
Grand Tier Premium $275
Grand Tier Front $175
Grand Tier Rear $100
Grand Tier Boxes Partial View $80
Dress Circle Premium $150
Dress Circle $100
Dress Circle Boxes Partial View $65
Balcony Premium $85 SOLD OUT
Balcony $65
Balcony Boxes Partial View $15
Family Circle Front $26
Family Circle $15
Family Circle Boxes Partial View

NeoPatrick

Here's a decent seating chart which shows you not only the areas, but where the seat numbers actually are, which I think makes a pretty big difference.
www.indux.com/map/Metro-Opera-House_tn.gif

Last time we lucked out getting two returns (just happened to be there when I checked about two months prior) that were front row center of the Dress Circle. Loved those seats. To be honest, I really DO NOT like the orchestra seating for opera -- I like being up more and looking down and across it all.

By the way, I think if you call them, you can get a helpful person who will guide you better than trying to figure it all out on your own.

shoefly

Thank you very much!

Fra_Diavolo

Grand Tier Front and Dress Circle Premium are very good seats.

I know some true music lovers of limited means who are happy to be in the balcony and if I'm not mistaken, even the Family Circle Front.

Shame it's so expensive.

bennnie

I had the same question the one and only time I have gone to the Met. We ended up with Dress Circle seats - I am guessing that they must have been the Premium because of the price. The seats were very good and the sound was wonderful.

michelleNYC

Patrick -- How do you feel about Grand Tier Premium? I (by serious chance) scored tickets to Romeo and Juliette for tomorrow evening and am taking my mother as a christmas gift.

NeoPatrick

Sure! In theory at least, a step better than Dress Circle.

My big thing is I love being in the first row of whatever section upstairs. There's just something about having no one in front of me that opens it up so much.

amp322

The only ones I would really avoid are the partial view boxes. Major neck strain! Balcony is not bad, if you are short on $$, which is entirely possible, since by the time you add in parking and dinner, you could easily be spending over $500, even with so-so tickets!

easytraveler

I'd suggest using the metro. It's much, much easier and cheaper.

There's food available at the Opera House, not exactly the cheapest, but you could grab a sandwich if you are particularly hungry.

NeoPatrick

Calling dinner at the Grand Tier at the Met "food" is really missing it. I still thank Howard R, for practically insisting that we should book for dinner there. What a wonderful evening it made. The food was excellent and service even better. Being able to go back to our table for dessert (or cheese) and coffee at intermission was even better. Easily worth every penny and helped MAKE the evening a totally wonderful experience.

LilRicky

Center Parterre Premium and Grand Tier Premium are my favorite seating areas. I saw "Iphigenie en Tauride" last weekend from Grand Tier, and it was sublime.

"Peter Grimes" in the Spring from Center Parterre is something I am looking forward to.

Why not eat at Picholine before? Expensive, but worth it!

marginal_margiela

I, personally, like the Balcony, either right or left side. I don't like to sit in the middle. Like Patrick, I like to look down at the stage.

Now that Mrs. Astor is dead, who got her box? That is the best seat in the house.

Yes, Picholine is a fabulous restaurant. It is my ex-husband's favourite.

Thingorjus

LilRicky

Where was Mrs. Astor's box? Never went on Monday night...

NeoPatrick

I love Picholine, but would HATE to eat there before the opera. There is something about trying to do a wonderful and expensive dinner in a restaurant and having one eye on my watch the whole time that just plain doesn't appeal to me. I detest trying to do nice pre-theatre dining. Now if the opera is over in time to eat afterwards. . .

easytraveler

I wasn't talking about a sit-down dinner. There are places inside Lincoln Center where there are huge lines just to grab a crostini.

If you want to, someone once guided me to a Chinese restaurant about two blocks away. Great food, stand up eatery, really cheap prices.

What I'm trying to say is that dinner and transportation doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg - unless you want it to.

We're San Francisco Opera devotees and I must say that I enjoy the opera far better without a stuffed full stomach - which just makes me fall asleep during the opera, LOL!

I'm not that familiar with the acoustics in the Met, maybe someone else is, but I'd go for the acoustics any day.

At the SF Opera House, the acoustical difference between sitting in a box vs a seat away up there is HUGE.

As for Romeo and Juliet, I saw Natalie Dessay as Juliet at the Met and there is no one else who can ever be Juliet for me. She was absolutely superb!

Enjoy! Whatever you decide to do!

coolbluewater

The sandwiches at the Met are pretty good--$6 per, as I recall. The Chinese restaurant--Ollie's maybe? But that's about 66th street and Broadway. I also like Nougatine pre-theater, if you don't want to splurge on Jeans-Georges.

have a good time at the Met.

easytraveler

coolwaterblue: I googled and that Chinese restaurant was probably on Amsterdam between 66th and 65th. I remember it as being "behind" Lincoln Center. It was a real hole in the wall with only one table which was not for sitting. Lots of take-out. Busy, busy, busy, with all these people coming in to get their takeouts.

LilRicky

NeoPatrick- I've dined at Picholine many times before performances at Lincoln Center. When they know you have a curtain to make, they always pace the meal accordingly. I have never had to worry about being on time. They have it down to a science! You simply have to arrive early enough to allow for a leisurely meal.

NeoPatrick

LilRicky, the last time we ate at Picholine, we spent probably 3 delightful hours. Since they start seating at 5:30 and you need to be out no later than 7:45, that is still too "rushed" for me. I'd save Picholine for a night we don't have to get to the theatre and we can truly get our "money's worth". Besides, if I'm planning a major meal in that nice a place -- I'd much prefer a full evening experience -- not a "late lunch" at 5:30! Sorry, that's just me.

shoefly

I actually prefer a late lunch on days we are going to a show. We find a restaurant open and serving a real meal at 3:00 or so. (We often hit Les Halles for that.) Then we just have a glass of wine and maybe some cheese before heading out. I don't like sitting for hours after a hefty meal!

My H is getting cold feet about going to the opera (he doesn't like it). But I'm lobbying HARD.