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Cheap seats at Simone Boccanegra




I've sat everywhere in the Met, or so I thought. I had never been in the rear seats of a side balcony box. Front seats, yes, but not the rear. Front and rear seats on all the other rings. Astonishing sound - best orchestra balance ever, and loud as f**k. (I'm shallow - I like it loud.) I sounded like the orchestra was a couple feet away, not that long distance down. If you like Row A perspective, this is where you want to be. (BTW, the rear seats on the lower side boxes do *not* give you this.) You have to lean out to see even half the stage, so if you go for the visuals, this is not for you.

The show was Simone Boccanegra, and was outstanding. Lots has been written about Levine's conducting lately, often complaining about his "flailing about" from his wheelchair. I've never watched him from overhead before, and his movements were certainly different from what I remembered, but everything was tight, and that band obviously still loves playing for him. It looked weird, it looked like flailing, but it worked.

The cast was outstanding. Lianna Hartounian, Joseph Calleja, Firuccio Furlanetto, all superb. Placido, who, since his eleventy-millionth birthday is singing baritone roles, sounded lovely, with a silky-smooth honey glazed sound, and no longer has a vibrato that covers the tri-state area. His voice doesn't have the heft of a baritone, but it worked pretty well.

The only down-side of this seat was the chorus, which was in great form. (They are always in great form.) When they sang all out, the sound got pretty congested and a little distorted, which is a shame, because the noise they make is one of the great things on the planet. OK, no seat's perfect. Final note: ticket price $35. You can't beat that with a stick.

Overall, a great night. The house roared at the curtain call. It was a love fest, in this case very well deserved.

WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.


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Topic - Cheap seats at Simone Boccanegra - Bill Way 11:46:18 04/14/16 (3)

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