Lydia Tay

The front row experience

Whenever I tell someone I'm sitting right in front of the soloist for a concert, I get the same disapproving glare or confused look before they tell me that sitting in the middle rows is better. I'd like to share with people the reason why I like to sit in front of the soloist.

I get to hear every sound they make.

I don't want to hear "Sibelius violin concerto" or "Tchaikovsky violin concerto", I want to hear "Sibelius violin concerto how (insert name of soloist) interprets it".

Yes, sitting in the middle will get you the best sounds of the soloist and orchestra combined, but I'm the 1% of concert goers who appreciate listening to the soloist's fingers slide up and down the strings, attacking the notes, hearing the occasional grunt from the physical action of that finale. It just adds to the excitement for me.

Don't get me wrong. I do appreciate the orchestra. If I went to a concert for the orchestral piece that the orchestra is performing instead of going to hear a soloist, I am sure to get a seat in the centre, or even on the second story seating.

But it's being able to get that level of intimacy with the soloist that draws me to the front row, as controversial as it is. Maybe you should try it!

Archive link