In the first room, there are single lines of seats right at the front on either side, and then rows of seats filling the back half of the room, set out in the normal way. Before the performers come in it is difficult to know... More
In the first room, there are single lines of seats right at the front on either side, and then rows of seats filling the back half of the room, set out in the normal way. Before the performers come in it is difficult to know where to go, but the seats on either side at the front end up being very close to the musicians and sometimes behind the performers. In my opinion the front row of the main seating is the better, but the venue is so small, nowhere is really bad.
As has been mentioned, everyone is taken into a different room for free drinks after the first act has finished. After 5 minutes or so, hang around the door you came in by and you will be all set to grab a front seat in room 2. It is all very gentile and there is need to rush, but if you leave the front row of room 2, you are likely to one of the first into room 3. In all 3 rooms you will only be a few feet from the performers wherever you sit.
We were first timers to an opera and it has converted us. We just went to see the same opera (La Traviata), at the Royal Opera House, London. It was very good, but it then became obvious that the shortened version in Venice misses quite a bit out (mainly because there is no chorus line), but that does not detract from the story oor the enjoyment. In fact, we preferred the short intimate version we saw at Musica a Palazzo - the singing was just as good as the Royal Opera House!
As for which one, we can recommend the one we saw - but understand the story before you go (and take a tissue for your wife).
