The best seats in the stalls. The best seats in the theater

From the hanger, the main thing in it is the auditorium. And in the hall itself there is a stage and seats for the audience, respectively.

Since antiquity, the theater has undergone tremendous changes. But its essence remained the same, because any theater is primarily a spectacle. And every spectacle presupposes a spectator, who, in turn, wants the spectacle to be as comfortable as possible. The viewer at all times was not indifferent to what place he would occupy in front of the stage.

Parterre and balcony

The prototype of the location, and hence the names of spectator places, appeared in medieval street theaters who had scaffolds of a farce type.

Due to persecution, theaters did not have their own premises at that time.

Most of the spectators stood in front of the stage and stood watching the game. This place and grounds. However, residents of the surrounding houses could watch the performance from their balconies. This is how the balcony was born.

With the advent theater halls these street safely migrated under the roof. True, the seats in the stalls are still for a long time remained standing and were intended for persons of the lower classes. Only under the influence of ideas french revolution spectator seats in the stalls.

The balconies are located in different tiers opposite the stage or on the sides of the stalls. One of their varieties was the amphitheater. He was also facing, going up in smooth ledges.

Lodges and gallery

But the most place of honor in the theater auditorium, unquestionably belongs to lodges. Unlike a balcony, this is already a fenced-off room on a tier.

A special place among them is occupied by the general () box. It is usually located opposite the stage with the most convenient view for the audience. In addition, she is a kind of PR for her special visitors and enhance their safety.

Important people in the general box are perfectly visible from anywhere in the hall. And for security reasons, it has a separate entrance.

Benoir - located in one of the tiers on the sides of the stalls. This row of boxes is usually at or just below the level of the stage. The mezzanine is located above the benoir and the amphitheater.

According to their size and shape, theater boxes are divided into two types - Italian and French. The Italian type of lodges is more deepened inside. Thus, he allows those in such a box not to be too noticeable to the rest of the public. French lodges, on the contrary, allow their inhabitants to demonstrate themselves as much as possible.

And, finally, there is a gallery, or rayek, in the auditorium. A favorite place for the unassuming theatrical comfort of the public. The seats here are located in the uppermost tier. They are as far away from the stage as possible, but they are the cheapest.

They say that the theater begins with a hanger, but in fact it begins with the purchase of tickets. Main question- what places to choose? There are stalls, boxes, mezzanine... In some theaters there are so-called uncomfortable places - this is where nothing is seen and little is heard. At the same time, such inconvenience is not always warned in advance.

Some places are too far away, from others - the edge of the stage is not visible. To choose the most best places, to begin with, let's look at the scheme of the theater hall.

Parterres are places in the auditorium area that are closest to the stage. The amphitheater is the space immediately behind the stalls. Usually the amphitheater area is just above the stalls. The mezzanine seats are even higher. At the very top is a balcony. On both sides of the parterre there are lodges - these are small spaces with a separate entrance.

By tradition, the seats in the box are considered the most prestigious - earlier only wealthy visitors could sit there. Each box has a separate entrance, and besides this, you can not only watch the performance, but also show yourself. More than a hundred years ago, it was precisely for this reason that representatives of high society. Officers sat in the stalls, and titled persons in separate boxes. Leo Tolstoy described this in Anna Karenina.

Nowadays, businessman Edward Lewis Richard Gere introduces the beauty Vivienne, performed by Julia Roberts, to the opera by buying tickets in the box. But in fact, the places there are some of the most uncomfortable. The stage is not fully visible, and the performance has to be viewed half-turned.

Today, to the question “What are the best places in the theater?” almost everyone will answer "in the stalls." Parterre seats are traditionally considered the best, but they are also the most expensive. At the same time, almost every theater has a so-called "sound pit" - it is somewhere between 5 and 10 rows. There, the sound literally flies over the viewer. This is especially important if you are going to the opera.

Famous film example: Bruce Willis' character Corwin Dallas in The Fifth Element is watching an opera from the front row. Many will not advise you to take tickets to the first rows of the stalls. It only seems from afar that the artists are fluttering around the stage like butterflies, but in the front row you will hear all the extraneous noises. In addition, you will have to watch the action with your head up, while you will still see the back of the conductor's head in front of you.

Choose seats in the middle of the hall or a little further. There, tickets are cheaper than in the front rows, and the view is better. Real theater-goers, in addition to the stalls, often choose the first rows of the mezzanine.

In general, the most prestigious and expensive theater seats do not mean the best. Sometimes on the balcony you can see and hear everything without interference.

If you often go to the theater, of course, you already know all the intricacies of the location of the seats in the auditorium, as well as which tickets are best to buy. But when planning the first viewing of the performance, it is worth knowing how the seats are located, from where you can clearly see the stage. Of course, front row tickets are expensive, we will talk about those that represent a compromise between affordable price and comfortable viewing. Let us dwell in detail on the definition of "mezzanine in the theatre". What is it and how to choose a comfortable place?

Where are the viewing chairs located?

Consider theater in common understanding rather than any particular building. The seating arrangement is approximately the same, only the area of ​​the auditorium differs. The seats closest to the stage are called the stalls. These are the most convenient places for viewing, which affects their cost - tickets for them are the most expensive. The first row should not be occupied if there is an orchestra pit in front of the stage, then the action will not be visible at all. Sometimes chairs are set on a flat floor, but more often the surface is sloped so that the people sitting in the back do not get in the way of the heads of those sitting in front.

Beyond them, on a slight rise, is an amphitheater located at the level of the stage. At these places, the viewer gets the widest and full review, as well as good audibility, especially when watching opera or ballet. This optimal choice in terms of price and panoramic view. Sometimes, next to the stage, on the sides of the stalls, there are special boxes called benoir. Often they are covered with a special black mesh so that the people sitting inside do not interfere with the work of the actors. Considered the most prestigious places.

Tiers and mezzanine in the theater

What is it and how are the seats located above the stage? The seating described above is complemented by tiers along the wall above stage level. Sometimes there is only one tier, and in theaters with halls large area their number reaches four. The lowest one is just called the mezzanine. It is quite comfortable to sit there, but it is better not to take seats close to the stage: you will have to turn and bend over to follow the development of events. It is best to sit in the center, directly above the amphitheater, in the first row. The tiers, located high, will not allow you to see the actors without binoculars, but tickets there are the cheapest. Sometimes these places are called balconies.

Mezzanine decoration

You may have already chosen the mezzanine in the theatre. What is it and whether the scene is clearly visible, you know. Let us give examples of how these tiers look in some houses of Melpomene. The entire hall and the stage are decorated in the same style, many carved details are finished in gold, complemented by dense beautiful fabrics. Sometimes it's nice to go to the theater to see the historical beauty. Let's take for example Mariinskii Opera House, the mezzanine of which is located above the benoir. It is lit by numerous chandeliers, giving it the appearance of a palace hall, white with gold trim and red seats. How else is the mezzanine decorated? Variety theater uses fabrics for finishing It seems that the whole hall is ablaze with bright rich colors: carpets, curtains, and armchairs - everything adds up to a general picture, complemented by white columns and sides that support the lower tier.

Benefits of buying mezzanine tickets

Having bought a ticket to one of these places, the viewer will not be disappointed. Of the advantages of this location have already been noted: good review scenes, excellent audibility of actors' voices and orchestral music Let's add more seating comfort. Mezzanines rarely have more than 10 rows of seats, often just 6-12 chairs in 2 rows, located in a small niche. But sometimes you can make a mistake with the choice, and then you have to spend the whole time of the performance on your feet in order to at least see something.

Now you will not be tormented by the question: "The mezzanine in the theater - what is it?" When buying tickets for any performances, check the visibility of all places and the price for them, and then choose the appropriate option.

When this exciting moment of visiting the theater comes, it is not difficult to get confused. After all, there is a difficult task of buying tickets ahead. How to make the right choice? Is the stalls in the theater really the most convenient and expensive area? Let's try to take a little digression and understand what really should be chosen.

What is a parterre?

The concept of "parterre" came to us from ancient rome. In the theaters of that time, located, as a rule, under open sky, around the stage with the actors were semicircular areas filled with spectators. The audience was diverse. Both wealthy and poor people stood and looked at the performance. Already in late XIX century, there were 2 rows of chairs near the stage. Behind them was a space filled with cheap-ticket audiences who enjoyed the spectacle standing up. The word "parterre" itself has French roots (par - by, terre - land) and means "on the ground."

The general definition is as follows: stalls - seats in the theater located on the floor plane parallel to the stage and below its level. In most theaters, the plane is understood a little towards the back rows. This improves the overview. The parterre in the theater is considered to be the most demanded and privileged place. There is an orchestra pit between the stage and the stalls.

Pros and cons of the partner

It doesn't matter what genre you prefer. Whether it's a musical, dramatic performance or opera, the stalls in the theater will allow you to:

Enjoy the richness and coherence of musical accompaniment;

See and examine the faces and costumes of the characters.

It should be noted that in different parts of the stalls these positive nuances are very individual. It all depends on specifications hall itself:

acoustics;

Stage heights.

The disadvantages include the need to keep your head up.

If you are not too lucky with the acoustics of the room, in the first rows, as well as in the side parts of the stalls, on the contrary, the purity of the sound can be distorted. But this rarely happens. The most convenient and panoramic is the central part of the seventh row.

In what cases will seats in the stalls really spoil the real pleasure of what is happening on stage for you? This can happen when the action is full-scale, where a large number of extras. The parterre will not allow you to see everything that is happening more voluminously, in other words, “grab” the whole picture. This often happens in ballet productions. The genre of music can also play important role. Parterre's shortcomings are especially acutely felt in the Philharmonic, and not in the theater.

In addition to all that has been said, places in the stalls impose certain obligations. This part of the hall is well visible, and many people's eyes can be fixed on you. And this means that you need to look and behave accordingly.

In some performances, a great emphasis is placed on the auditorium. In such productions, you can be not only a spectator, but also, in a sense, a participant in what is happening, because the stalls in the theater are considered as extras. Be alert. Do not abuse perfume or cologne. Think about those who sit next to you. And if you really want to enjoy watching, you need to take care of buying tickets early. After all, as before, the stalls in the theater are the most convenient and desired place for any viewer.

I foresee fair questions. And why exactly in the Bolshoi and what does "comfortable" mean? The answers to these questions lie on the surface.
Convenient - these are spectator seats, the viewing angle of the stage from which will be as complete as possible. At the same time, for comfortable viewing of the performance from such places, the viewer should not need to use additional optical means (binoculars).

A Grand Theatre, because, having become familiar with the features of its architecture, a potential viewer in any city and in any theater can easily make right choice when buying a ticket.
To begin with, we will need to conduct a small "educational program" on the main concepts in theater architecture. If the reader has known all this for so long, this section can be skipped.
So, parterre (fr) - the word is formed from two words par - by and terre - earth. In total, we get on the ground. In practice, these are rows of spectator seats facing the stage. Parterre seats, starting from orchestra pit or from the stage, go up to the amphitheatre.
Amphitheater - rows of seats located in a semicircle with constantly rising ledges and located directly behind the stalls.
Benoir lodges are balconies located just below or at the level of the stage, on the right and left sides of it. (in the photo one of these boxes can be seen at the stalls level, in the lower left corner)

We rise above the mezzanine. Belle - in French, however, as in some other European languages ​​- beautiful, beautiful. (photo taken from mezzanine)

Tier - one of the middle or upper floors in the auditorium (everything above the mezzanine)
The balcony is an amphitheater of spectator seats on various tiers.
Lodge - a group of seats in the auditorium (around the stalls and on the tiers), separated by partitions or barriers.
The gallery is the topmost tier of the auditorium.
So, we got acquainted with some concepts of theatrical architecture and we can start looking for the best viewing places. Let's start in order, from the stalls.

Here, it would seem, everything is clear - the stalls are the best and most expensive places. But don't jump to conclusions. On one of the sites, I happened to encounter a post from a viewer who visited Mikhailovsky Theater. It reports that having bought tickets for the back rows of the stalls, people had to stand the whole performance in order to see anything. In fact, sitting in the stalls before us opens the most full view to the stage. But the farther away our seats are, the more difficult it is for us to make out the actors, but the backs of the spectators' heads are very clearly visible with more expensive tickets. In some theaters, this problem is already solved at the construction stage.

The parterre is built at a slight angle, which increases as it approaches the back rows.
The amphitheater - everything would be fine, but it's too far away. The only consolation is that the coat in the wardrobe for binoculars will be given without a queue.
The mezzanine and the boxes of the benoir are quite convenient places. But even here it is necessary Be careful. It is clear that when looking at the scene from the box, not located in the center relative to the stage, the viewer's eye cannot fully capture everything that happens on the stage. As a rule, spectators sitting on balconies right side very good visible left-hand side scenes, but the right one is poorly visible and vice versa. At the same time, in some theaters, in addition, the back of the stage is also poorly visible. You should also pay attention to the fact that, as a rule, the seats in all theater boxes are located in two or three rows. Accordingly, the viewing angle of the scene in the first row is slightly larger than in the third. In 2011, an unpleasant incident occurred at the Bolshoi Theater on the new stage. Spectators who bought tickets for the extreme seats in the mezzanine were dissatisfied with the fact that they saw almost nothing from their seats. Having been refused a refund, they sued the theater.
Tier - there are four of them in the Bolshoi Theater! Certainly not worth buying. tickets for the fourth tier if you have a fear of heights. Face to face with the muses, you may begin to feel a little dizzy. Needless to say, rising from tier to tier higher and higher, prices fall lower and lower?
Now about the main thing, about buying tickets. Their price ranges from one and a half to forty or more thousand. What does it depend on? First, of course, from the performance. A lot is important here. For example, the audience goes to the ballet more willingly than to the opera. Many go "on names." Premiere performances always cost more. Secondly, of course, from the location of the places. To help the public select the right ticket, many theater box offices have charts showing "convenient" and "uncomfortable" seats. Thirdly, where, from whom and how long before the performance you purchase tickets.

The Bolshoi Theater starts pre-sale of tickets for all performances three months before they start. In order to order them, you must send an application to the address [email protected], which must be sent no later than the day preceding the one on which the pre-sale of tickets for the selected performance opens, but not earlier than fifteen days before the start of the pre-sale. The pre-sale schedule can be found here http://www.bolshoi.ru/visit/. The application must contain:
- Surname.
- Passport ID.
- The name of the show.
- Date and time when the performance will be shown.
- Number of seats, no more than TWO.
An accepted application must be answered by e-mail, confirming that the APPLICATION IS ACCEPTED (the application is not ordered reservation) and processed by the cashier in the presence of the applicant. When buying a ticket on request, you must name the date and time of the performance, last name and present your passport to the cashier. (The passport number and surname indicated in the application will also be indicated on the ticket.) Advance ticket sales are available from 11:00 to 15:00. From 4 p.m., the tickets remaining from the preliminary sale go on free sale (theater box offices, the Internet, city theater box offices and agencies). When visiting the theater, you will need to present a passport.
In the theatre there is a program "Big - for students", according to which
full-time students of universities can purchase tickets worth one hundred rubles for theater performances. The sale of such tickets opens at 17.30 at the second box office located in the directorate building. Sale and entrance to the theater - upon presentation of a student card. For performances on the Main (historical) stage, sixty tickets are allocated for students; for performances on New stage- thirty tickets.
Beneficiaries, upon presentation of documents confirming their benefits, can also purchase tickets worth one hundred rubles.
One hundred and sixty-one tickets are allocated for performances on the New Stage, and five hundred and eighteen tickets for the Main Stage.

But that's not all! Now, in order to visit the Bolshoi Theater, which opened after reconstruction, it is not necessary to buy a ticket for the performance!!!
At twelve o'clock in the afternoon there are one-hour tours of the theater (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). Tickets are sold at the box office located in historical building theater (twelfth entrance) on the day of the tour. The ticket price is five hundred rubles. For schoolchildren, full-time students and beneficiaries, the price is two hundred and fifty rubles. No more than fifteen tickets are sold for the tour.
Group visits can be requested by email.
[email protected]

The article uses information from the official website of the Bolshoi Theater