David Geffen Hall - Seating Recs?

[MishaK]

Hi folks,

Haven't been around this forum in a while. I'll be going to NY/NJ over Thanksgiving. I was hoping to catch the performance of the Planets with the NYPO with my family. I haven't been to the new hall ever. Given the really steep ticket prices (will be at least $400 for the four us), I don't want to end up in a crappy seat.

Both of my kids play in our local youth orchestra, so we want to be in seats that not only have good, balanced sound, but also have good views of the different sections, so the kids can watch the pros.

The latter is the reason why I generally dislike shoebox concert halls with long, barely sloped main floors. Looks like the NYPO's risers onstage are not very steep either, so I would be concerned about good visibility of the winds and brass from the main floor. How is the sound in the rear of the hall? Can you still properly see the winds and brass? The main floor doesn't seem as long as it was in Avery Fisher.

I personally love sitting behind the orchestra, but it seems at David Geffen Hall some of the available (and not horrendously expensive seats) are pretty far set back behind the orchestra in the corner of the hall. I worry about both balance and visibility there.

Does anyone here have experiences with this new hall? What are the best seats for your buck that don't cost multiple arms and legs? Thanks in advance.

Misha

[brewski]

Hi Misha!

I have only been to the renovated hall once, last August, for a Mostly Mozart concert, and was sitting in the Orchestra, Row X, seat 102. (That's where they typically put reviewers, about 2/3 of the way back, on the aisle.) The sound was very good, but I see those seats are normally $203.

If I were a gambler (and you may want to get other opinions), I see that for Saturday, Nov. 25, they have seats in the Third Tier, Row BB, dead center, for $102 each. Personally, I would risk "higher up" for better sound, since pre-renovation, those seats were pretty good all around. And now, the stage is a little closer to those seats. You'd probably still want to bring binoculars.

Hope this is somewhat helpful! Didn't realize that the new prices are so high, but my experience in the post-pandemic era is that most everything in NYC is more expensive now.

-Bruce

[MishaK]

Thanks, Bruce.

[MishaK]

OK. That's it. I'm not going. There are no student rush tickets for my kids for this concert and the $99 tickets are gone too. I ain't Paying $140 a pop for nosebleed seats. That's just BS. NYPhil needs to get its head out of its butt.

[eljr]

OK. That's it. I'm not going. There are no student rush tickets for my kids for this concert and the $99 tickets are gone too. I ain't Paying $140 a pop for nosebleed seats. That's just BS. NYPhil needs to get its head out of its butt.

With all respect, it's 2023. $140 is not unreasonable. Geffen is in the heart NYC. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

OK. That's it. I'm not going. There are no student rush tickets for my kids for this concert and the $99 tickets are gone too. I ain't Paying $140 a pop for nosebleed seats. That's just BS. NYPhil needs to get its head out of its butt.

I haven't been to a concert for a while, but (to be honest and I do mean this kindly) I've seen the prices for everything go up--particularly over the past few years.  Food, fuel...you name it.  Orchestras and their members are trying to survive too.   

Meant kindly and with love,

PD

[DavidW]

Everything in New York City is outrageously priced these days.  I just saw a YT video about how even the price controlled apartments in Brooklyn are becoming too high for people to afford.

I could understand raising the prices to combat inflation, but 40%!?  No that is outrageous.  Because I guarantee that most salaries are not going up.

[Spotted Horses]

I don't think those prices are at all unusual, unfortunately.

[(poco) Sforzando]

The orchestra wouldn't set those prices if the market couldn't bear it. But you might try other options - Carnegie Hall, the Met, or even the NYC Ballet which is probably doing its splendid production of Nutcracker these days.

[Atriod]

I haven't seen the NY Phil in a while and $140 for nosebleed seats does seem high to me. BSO is still what I find quite reasonable. Most recent was $60 including fees for balcony seats at a Ligeti/Liszt/Stravinsky program.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I'm going to that Planets myself on the 22nd, and an orchestra seat cost $160. Ouch.

[DavidW]

I'm going to that Planets myself on the 22nd, and an orchestra seat cost $160. Ouch.

There is no point in picking lowest tier seats then if there isn't much difference in price.