Opera promises bigger seats when it returns

Opera promises bigger seats when it returns

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norman lebrecht

November 24, 2020

Lyric Opera of Chicago has been using the shutdown for an internal makeover, the first in quarter of a century.

It is promising ‘slightly larger new seats throughout, a staggered configuration and widened aisles to improve sightlines, accessibility and audience comfort’.

Capacity will be cut from 3,563 to 3,276.

More here.

 

Comments

  • Anthony Sayer says:

    Sounds like a good idea. It’s a vast, sweeping hall, so anything helping those furthest from the stage to improve their experience is not a bad thing. Great house.

  • V.Lind says:

    Still far too big.

  • What a liberty!! says:

    Freud is the problem, not
    the width of the seats. No one will be in the seats, old or new for at least another year.

  • m says:

    but, Illinois is currently wiping out all the slightly larger people, so what is the point? Illinois has the worst gov/mayor in history. Prizker and Boris could be besties.

  • fflambeau says:

    Wise. Bodies are bigger these days.

  • sam says:

    The average American is obese (Exhibit A, Trump), and midwesterners are more obese than the average American.

    • Anthony Sayer says:

      True regarding midwesterners. I’ve never seen people so fat as those in Chicago.

      • Opera fan says:

        Illinois doesn’t even make the top 12 for obesity rates in the United States. States that do are: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana (which is right next door to Illinois), Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

        Among US cities Chicago is rated 78th most obese.

        • anon says:

          But there’s no opera house to make fun of in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

  • Karl says:

    That’s still bigger than Wilfrid-Pelletier in Montreal. Do they use subtle amplification for opera performances like Montreal?

  • Stephen says:

    This is wonderful news. They did so much renovating some years ago but the hall remained basically as it was. As for the touted acoustics, I have to say there were issues with deadness of sound so this is also welcome news. Bravo to LOC for this.

  • JussiB says:

    Thank you Chicago. The widening girth of America demands it.

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