Is it worth it to choose a parterre in the theater?

When this exciting moment of theater visits comes, it's easy to get lost. After all, the difficult task of buying tickets is ahead. How to make a right choice? Is the stalls in the theater the most convenient and expensive zone? Let's try a little digression and understand what really should be chosen.

What is the ground?

The concept of "ground" came to us from ancient Rome. In the theaters of that time, located, as a rule, under the open sky, around the stage with the actors were semi-circular platforms filled with spectators. The audience was mixed. Both wealthy and poor people stood staring at the performance. At the end of the XIX century, near the stage there were 2 rows of chairs. Behind them was the space filled by the public on cheap tickets, which enjoyed the spectacle standing up. The very word "parterre" has French roots (par-po, terre-earth) and means "on the ground".

The general definition is as follows: parterre - seats in the theater, located on the floor plane parallel to the stage and below its level. In most theaters, the plane is slightly understood in the direction of the rear rows. This improves the overview. Parterre in the theater is considered the most popular and privileged place. Between the stage and the orchestra there is an orchestra pit.

Pros and cons of the stalls

It does not matter which genre you prefer. If it's a musical, a dramatic performance or an opera, the theater's parterre will allow you:

- to feel the fullness of the voices;

- Enjoy the juiciness and coherence of musical accompaniment;

- see and view the faces and costumes of the characters.

It should be noted that in different places of the stalls, these positive nuances are very individual. Everything depends on the technical characteristics of the hall:

- Acoustics;

- The height of the scene.

The disadvantages include the need to keep the head in a raised state.

If the acoustics of the room is not too lucky, 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 it happens so rarely. The most convenient and panoramic view is the central part of the seventh row.

In which cases do you really mess up the places on the ground in the real pleasure of what is happening on stage? This can happen when the action is full-scale, where a large number of extras are involved. Parterre will not allow you to see everything happening more voluminously, in other words, "grab" the whole picture. This often happens in ballet productions. The genre of music can also play an important role. Particularly acute shortcomings of the orchestra are felt in the Philharmonic Society, and not in the theater.

Useful advice for theatergoers

In addition to all the above, places in the stalls impose certain obligations. This part of the hall is well-surveyed, and the views of many people can be fixed on you. And this means that you should look and act 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 theater's parterre is seen as a mass meeting. Be on the alert. Do not abuse perfume or cologne. Think about those who sit next to you. And if you really want to enjoy viewing, take care of buying tickets early. After all, as before, the parterre in the theater is the most convenient and desired place for any spectator.