alison Posted October 15, 2018 Share Posted October 15, 2018 Moving this out of the "Germany ..." thread so it doesn't get lost among 3 dozen pages: Munich: On 14/10/2018 at 12:58, Lizbie1 said: Angela, sorry to trouble you for yet more advice, but in your view is it better to submit a written order for tickets or wait for online booking to open? (I've decided to take a chance on the production as I'll be in town anyway!) 22 hours ago, Angela said: Lizbie, I only book online or by phone at Munich, so I don't know if writing is faster (I think they do it by lottery?). However ballet doesn't sell as fast as an Anna Netrebko or Jonas Kaufmann opera at Munich, even it it's Polunin - so if you are able to book immediately at 10 o'clock on the opening day of online booking, that should be no problem, I think. Or try the phone. Try to catch seats (or standing room) in the middle of the balconies - the sight from the sides is not so great. No problem in the stalls. If you take tickets on the balcony sides, only first row. The Nationaltheater is beautiful, but huge, and I could'nt find the perfect place for ballet there until now... ☹️ 2 hours ago, toursenlair said: My experience of the stalls is that it's preferable to not be in the first 4 rows as they are sunk below the stage a bit. Row 7 / 8 and back are better. Also definitely don't take a seat at the end of a row as some of these are behind big pillars that block the view. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 15, 2018 Author Share Posted October 15, 2018 If you know of any other related discussion, either copy it in here yourself or tell me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 17, 2018 Author Share Posted October 17, 2018 13 hours ago, Angela said: Yes, I like the back of the stalls much more, but that might be too far away for some people. Katherine, where did you find pillars?? I agree, the end of a row is not great for the bad sight lines, especially in the front rows, but I can't remember pillars. I'll have to check next time 😯 10 hours ago, toursenlair said: I couldn't tell you which rows exactly, but some of them in mid Orchestra/Stalls/Parkett definitely have the view obstructed. You;ve probably just never been unfortunate enough to sit there. Row 7/8 is fine: not too far away, and with sufficient rake to see all of the stage. Closer rows may be fine for people taller than me (5 foot 4). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 6, 2018 Author Share Posted November 6, 2018 I think this refers to the Berlin Staatsoper: 44 minutes ago, Coated said: Ta! I've also found a nice site to check the view for Staatoper seats https://sitzplatzvorschau.de/staatsoper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 In Munich I did not like my seat in Rang 3 as it had a big fat safety rail all along the ledge likewise Rang 4 so you are better off in seats on Rang 1 or 2 . To see the stage properly I had to lean forward which gave me a pain in the back. I think if you are taller you will be OK even in Rang 2 without the rail I still had to sit up to see when the dancers cam to very front of the stage. In Hamburg the Loges are not great if you are small:- I had front row seats in Loge 5 left but they were far back so safety rail gets in the view again. Very painful trying to find any comfortable position to see the stage properly so I reckon you are better off with a back row on the tiers. Not sure if front row centre is any better will find out in December. Apparently you can hire a booster seat cushion which I will do for the gala next year as I have been allocated a Loge. In Berlin the Deutsche Oper is fine in my experience and is the only theatre I go for stalls as they are well raked and seats are offset so you have a clearer view. The Staats Oper central tiers I sat in were OK before the renovation as was the back row of Stalls but I have yet to try out the renovated theatre. I have a nasty feeling safety rails have been installed:-( I will find out in December! I have taken to taking photos of the auditoria and views from my seats, no time today but will try to remember to resize and post here!! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 6 minutes ago, Don Q Fan said: In Munich I did not like my seat in Rang 3 as it had a big fat safety rail all along the ledge Can I ask which row you were in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 The front row😬. Really annoying the way so many theatres now have such safety rails....EU "elf n safety" regs I dare say! My favourite theatre is Het Nationale in Amsterdam no rails, good views, very comfortable and modern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 8 hours ago, Don Q Fan said: EU "elf n safety" regs I dare say! In Munich they have been there since I can remember, and I'm happy they are because I'm afraid of heights. I never had a problem looking over them. I'm never going to sit in den upper balcony of Semperoper Dresden again because there is NO railing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted November 25, 2018 Share Posted November 25, 2018 Maybe you are taller than me: if I sat back in my seat properly the rail interfered with my view. Sounds like I'd be ok in Dresden as luckily I'm ok with heights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aruna S Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 I found this very useful thread (thank you alison!) after searching the forum. The Deutsche Oper in Berlin isn't included, could someone very kindly tell me what the rake is like? I've already booked for several Wagner operas next May, but didn't bother about the view. Now, however, I'm booking for Giselle which is on while I'm there. The specific areas I'm looking at are Rang 2, (the first row unless there's an annoying safety rail) or Rang 1 from the third row onwards. These are in the 2nd price category, though I would be happier with the 3rd category if the rows 6 and 7 aren't affected by an overhang or something. Of course the same applies for these categories in the stalls, depending on the rake since I am somewhat short. Many thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 HI Aruna - I did mention Berlin Deutsche OPer in my post above. The stalls there are great with good rake and seats are offset so you do not have a head straight in front of you. I usually go for the cat3 seats but Cat 2 are lovely but a little dearer. Cat 3 are great value and even cat 4 rows at the back of the Stalls are good as the rake is slightly more at the very back. I have sat in teh very back row a couple of times and it is fine, just a little far away. Views I have found all good especially if you sit in central seats. Definitely get as close to centre as you can. Up on the tiers I have only sat on the first tier as the 2nd is often closed. I have only had the front row and 2nd row, it was a while ago now but do not recall any issues. What I would say is that the tiers are at the very back of the theatre as most of the stalls are not over hung at all so you are right at the back even on the front row. I rarely go for stalls but I always DO here because the view is good and you are closer to the stage. It is rather far away up on the tiers. I have not ever sat in the side tier loges. Normally for Balanchine works I like to sit high up but I have booked cat 3 stalls row 18 for Jewels in October. I thought it may be nice to see the dancers closer up as I know the choreography fairly well now for Jewels. I have seen Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, DonQ, Esmerelda, Nutcrackers, various galas and triple bills nearly all from the stalls and always had a good view. I am only 1.64m so not the tallest but they seem to have the rake and offset of seats just right here. Here's a pic from my stalls seat of DonQ last year think it was about row 18 obv with a bit of zoom lens. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aruna S Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 Thank you so much Don Q Fan! I'm glad I missed your reference in the earlier post and asked my question because there's so much detail in your reply :-) I'm 1.57m so a good bit shorter than you... but with the rake and your experience of the stalls I'll go for that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 9 hours ago, Aruna S said: Thank you so much Don Q Fan! I'm glad I missed your reference in the earlier post and asked my question because there's so much detail in your reply 🙂 I'm 1.57m so a good bit shorter than you... but with the rake and your experience of the stalls I'll go for that. I think you will be ok, but they usually have booster cushions in German theatres some take a small deposit refundable upon return. Just ask at the coak checks who are probably best to ask (on the ground floor after you enter) if you think you may benefit from one, but I find the seats at the DO are very well upholstered and "high" anyway! The rake isn't huge but their layout works very well. Hope you enjoy Giselle! I found a photo I took of the auditorium last year you can see how the tiers are right at the back here too. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 Useful advice about late tickets for Stuttgart in the reply to this post: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lollylamb1 Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 Bavarian State Opera/Ballet Does anyone have any knowledge of the seat view Seating Plans and Prices: Bayerische Staatsoper - for NATIONALTHEATER to be precise. I've never been and was weighing up a cheaper priced ticket either up high or lower around the side, but wondered if anyone had been or could recommend as it's difficult to tell from the images and plans available online? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 For Ballet, stay in the middle, you have a badly restricted view if you are too far on the side. The standing room is fine, if you stay on the more expensive standing places (the lilac coulour on the plan). You have a good view in the 2. and 3. balcony, the Galerie is too far away for my taste. My preferred, still payable places are 2. balcony, up to numbers 29 or 30, but not the higher numbers. The Nationaltheater is bad for ballet, if you ask me - in the stalls, you have to look upwards in the first rows, in the back rows you are already far away from the stage (but it's a fine, unrestricted view, also on the outside of the rows, no problem). Same goes for the middle seats in the balconies, they are very far away from the stage. Don't buy Hörerplätze or Partiturplätze, they are without view, by the way. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 Except for the sight lines, it's a very beautiful theatre 🙃 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lollylamb1 Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 Thank you Angela! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaM Posted September 17, 2021 Share Posted September 17, 2021 Row 10 in the stalls is perfect for ballet … not to far away, full sight of stage and floor and therefore dancers’ feet. Crucially, ticket cost is much lower than stalls in ROH. Most of stalls has good sight of the stage … avoid first few rows as these are slightly below the stage. Sight-lines are similar to ROH, in that view of stage gets restricted quite quickly as you go around the sides of all levels (except stalls). Centre of the levels is a good view … the AD sits alongside the royal box. As in ROH Grand Tier … these seats are at some distance from the stage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaM Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 Could somebody advise me on best seating and/or seating to avoid at Hamburg? I’m planning a trip to see Alina Cojocaru in Liliom. Thank you 🙏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 Somewhere in the stalls is fine, I think there are no sightline restrictions, maybe very small ones on the side. If you take a box, I would sit only in the first row, and not too far on the side. It's a modern house, not like Zurich where you can see the whole stage from only on a third of the seats. Modern and practical, not really beautiful. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaM Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 @Angela thank you … very helpful. Yes I’ve seen photos of the modern style auditorium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabine0308 Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 14 hours ago, FionaE said: Could somebody advise me on best seating and/or seating to avoid at Hamburg? I’m planning a trip to see Alina Cojocaru in Liliom. Thank you 🙏 I recommend middle of row 6 or upwards. It's not steep but you have a good view in the stalls. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted July 19, 2023 Author Share Posted July 19, 2023 Hamburg: 11 hours ago, Christine said: There is a brief window of a few days a couple of months (February in my case) before the actual gala during which you can apply for a ticket (stating your seating, pricing preferences, no. seats etc.. ). A few months later you'll receive information (April in my case) if your application was successful and you can then buy the ticket. Important seating advice: Avoid rows 2 to 10 in the stalls. There is no rake and you might get trapped behind giants (as happened in our case. We did manage to "work" our way forward, however). Views from the balcony (first, second or even 3rd tier) are preferable. Seating in the stalls starts to climb from row 11, from here you have excellent views. Here's the link to the page for next years's Nijinsky-Gala XLIX: https://www.hamburgballett.de/de/spielplan/stueck.php?AuffNr=196311 Keep checking the page (there must be an English language page, too) for announcements. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
art_enthusiast Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 (edited) My question relates to booking seats for the Bayerisches Staatsballett. No offence to them but I do find the ROH website to be a bit more user friendly in its layout, despite its many problems! (For example - lots of clicking and redirection required on Staatsballett website to even access the 2023/24 season repertoire list, and not really an option to filter by dates.) I'm not sure where the seat map is to actually select seats in the auditorium - you just get directed straight to the checkout and select your price range/add credit card information, and after that is it randomly allocated? Seems a bit puzzling Edited July 24, 2023 by art_enthusiast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 The initial allocation of tickets in Munich is by ballot. If there are any seats left after the ballot has taken place, they can be chosen online in the usual way. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabine0308 Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 (edited) Here is the link to all explanation regarding ticket booking: https://www.staatsoper.de/en/ticket-info When you chosen to order online on the first day and hour when it is possible (for example May 23, 10am), there is often a "queue". You can see your number and then the countdown. When you are finally first "in line" (number 1), then you can pick the performance and date, and then you will be directed to the seat map. After your first order, you can continue to book the next performance, because you are already "inside the booking system". I hope my explanation helps. I have ordered tickets this way in the past, it works. But it takes patience. I don't it anymore because I want to know the cast, and casting is out 2 weeks before performance only, or even later. OR Written order (form on the website): Click on the piece and then on tickets and you will be directed to the form to the written order: https://www.staatsoper.de/en/staatsballett Edited July 24, 2023 by Sabine0308 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 6 hours ago, art_enthusiast said: I'm not sure where the seat map is to actually select seats in the auditorium If you want to see the seat map of the Opera House/Nationaltheater, just go to one of the opera performances on sale right now, directly on the home page right. The ballet is on holiday already. https://www.staatsoper.de/en/ Possibly one that's not already sold out, then you will see the seating plan. 4 hours ago, bangorballetboy said: If there are any seats left after the ballot has taken place, There are always seats left for personal, telephone and online booking. They sell first by mail/email three months before, then by phone and online two months before the performance. It's not that hard to get ballet tickets, the house is huge. Of course you get the best tickets when you book two months before exactly. 6 hours ago, art_enthusiast said: lots of clicking and redirection required on Staatsballett website to even access the 2023/24 season repertoire list, It's right on the homepage https://www.staatsoper.de/staatsballett - scroll down and click on "Die Ballett-Saison 2023-24" - they just forgot to translate the headline 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annamicro Posted September 3, 2023 Share Posted September 3, 2023 Alina Cojocaru guesting in Ashton The Dream with Semperoper ballet triggered the trip to Dresden and Sachsen I was "dreaming" about since when I was in the high school. Booking my ticket I discoverd this amazing page with a full detailed Semperoper seat by seat view! https://map.3ddigitalvenue.com/semperoper 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted September 4, 2023 Author Share Posted September 4, 2023 That's great - thanks very much, annamicro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 @Myrtle Deutsche Oper Berlin stalls are very good with reasonable rake and off set seats so usually you get a good view. The balconies are so far back and high that you are quite far from the stage so I go for stalls around rows 15-17 in the middle. At the Staatsoper u d Linden avoid the first couple of seats on ends of rows on the tiers as there are high safety rails that interfere with views. The best seats are in the royal box (mitteloge) if you can get it. Bang in the middle first tier I think. It's a U shape theatre so usual caveats apply. Think stalls are offset as well. I saw Onegin from the rear stalls and think it was ok. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 (edited) 3 hours ago, myrtle said: Also, please comment on how far in advance Zurich releases casting information? Is it not advisable to wait for casting? Is the rake good in the 'orchestra' level for either Zurich or Berlin? Or should short people always sit in balcony or rings? Myrtle, I did not check for the Zurich casting so often, but as far as I remember, it comes rather short before the performance. Maybe you could check when they put it online for the next performances; right now, it's just for the next week. The Zurich Opera House is lovely, next to the lake - but it has the worst sightlines I know for the highest prices. You're safe when you are in the orchestra level - the rake is not steep, but it is there, and I never had problems. If you can get the first row in the Parkett Galerie, that would be perfect, everything is near enough to the stage, as it is a rather small theatre. For every other seat in the house you have to sit in the middle part of the theatre if you want to see the whole stage - don't got further out than boxes 8 or 7, even there the second row is already bad. Never go in the third row of a box, it's standing room only, even if you have a seat (the fourth row are barstools - maybe you can see if you stand on them 🤪). In the second balcony, you see very well in the middle section (very steep rake) and maybe in the first three seats from the middle in the side sections, don't go further outside. They have seats with slightly restricted views behind columns, "slightly" means restricted, not slightly restricted. Getting a cheap seat with good sightlines at Zurich is really hard work! As it is so small, the acoustics are great, but what does that help if you don't see the dancers. A great house for opera... My theatre with the best sightlines, by the way, is the Badisches Staatstheater at Karlsruhe, a modern and a little ugly building, but you can see the whole stage from literally every single seat in the house. And it has a huge stage, so much room for the dancers. Edited April 1 by Angela missing letter 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myrtle Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 5 hours ago, Angela said: Myrtle, I did not check for the Zurich casting so often, but as far as I remember, it comes rather short before the performance. Maybe you could check when they put it online for the next performances; right now, it's just for the next week. The Zurich Opera House is lovely, next to the lake - but it has the worst sightlines I know for the highest prices. You're safe when you are in the orchestra level - the rake is not steep, but it is there, and I never had problems. If you can get the first row in the Parkett Galerie, that would be perfect, everything is near enough to the stage, as it is a rather small theatre. For every other seat in the house you have to sit in the middle part of the theatre if you want to see the whole stage - don't got further out than boxes 8 or 7, even there the second row is already bad. Never go in the third row of a box, it's standing room only, even if you have a seat (the fourth row are barstools - maybe you can see if you stand on them 🤪). In the second balcony, you see very well in the middle section (very steep rake) and maybe in the first three seats from the middle in the side sections, don't go further outside. They have seats with slightly restricted views behind columns, "slightly" means restricted, not slightly restricted. Getting a cheap seat with good sightlines at Zurich is really hard work! As it is so small, the acoustics are great, but what does that help if you don't see the dancers. A great house for opera... My theatre with the best sightlines, by the way, is the Badisches Staatstheater at Karlsruhe, a modern and a little ugly building, but you can see the whole stage from literally every single seat in the house. And it has a huge stage, so much room for the dancers. Thank you for this so helpful and humorous post! Oh my. This is definitely daunting, but armed with this valuable knowledge I may attempt a booking. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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