[Steatopygous]

Don't go in the highest levels. I did and got vertigo. I spent half the first act scanning lower tiers and finding a seat I could snag at the first interval. But I miscounted tiers and took someone else's seat, who was very unimpressed on returning from the bar. He knew exactly what I was up to. But I had time to find the right tier, thank goodness. So that's a cautionary tale. 🤣

I've been quite a few times in different parts of the hall, and the sound is really good everywhere. Conventional wisdom is towards the middle about 12-15 rows from the front, and that applies to most houses. The sound has time to balance, you can see and hear very well, and you don't twist your neck trying to see surtitles.

 

[Steatopygous]

No sitting under an overhang
No one taller than you so that you have to play the "tennis" game.
Easier access to the bathroom.

No sitting under an overhang is really important advice that I intended to give but forgot. For orchestral music, my favourite spot is in the dress circle but in the front four rows to avoid the overhang ofthe balcony above. It does affect the sound.

There are six (six!) tiers at the Met, and the family circle is above the balcony. That's where I got vertigo, in the front row overlooking the abyss!

 

[Steatopygous]

I thought the balcony didn't have an overhang?

In most houses, no. At the Met, the family circle is above the balcony.

 

[Steatopygous]

You may be right but I was going by this post below:

•4 yr. ago

"the balcony and family circle have the best sound in the house. front balcony seats are arguably the best in the house, with a clear view of the stage, no overhang, and a fantastic acoustic."

Not if they are talking about the Met, which this post is specifically about. They are right about the acoustic: good everywhere. See this seating plan: Zone Seating Chart - Current (metopera.org)

 

[Steatopygous]

I was quite the strumpet in the 1970's. No stranger to centerfolds, they couldn't get enough Couchie.

Very precocious of you Couchie, as you said in another thread you are 34. By my reckoning, born 1989, you weren't even a glint in your mother's eye. You probably said 1970s so you could pretend your strumpet days are over, but we are not fooled.