Avery Fisher Hall

Avery Fisher Hall is a bit of a Monet (I’m stretching this metaphor a bit, humor me). It’s pretty on the outside and in the lobby area, but once you get closer and actually enter the music hall, it’s a big old ugly mess on the inside. More like time stopped in the 1970’s. Looks aside, our box seats near the stage along the wall had limited view of the stage, but acoustics were good. I would have to lean completely over from our box to see the full stage. I had a good view of half the stage across from me and the conductor in the center. The NY Philharmonic put on a good show.
They won’t let you get to your seats if you’re not on time, so make sure you’re on time, the performances generally start exactly when they’re supposed to. Intermission was short, I barely had time to go downstairs and grab a drink and a snack. Didn’t have time to use the restroom and didn’t want to risk not being able to get back to my seat — the usher warned me that she wouldn’t be able to let me in if I didn’t get back before intermission was over. They’re a little overly strict about this in my opinion. Reasonably priced tickets can be found. Come here if you really like the performer or performance. Don’t come for the looks or experience or if you’re trying to «wow» your out of town guests… they will not be «wowed.»

Gorgeous, exquisite venue. I rented this whole place out for an event and it was spectacular. The management was a pleasure to work with and catered to all my requests promptly. The ticketing office was very professional and it was a joy to work with them as well. Granted, when you’re renting a space as big as this with all the hoopla attached, you are going to pay for every additional request but they’re willing to work with you on the fees, be it the price or getting additional services. Nevertheless, you will pay an arm and a leg to rent this venue, but the experience, be it for my team, client and guests, was priceless. Producing an event at the illustrious, world-​renowned Lincoln Center = going in the books~

Seen the NY Philharmonic here a million times since I was a child. My dad used to call it Philharmonic Hall. And as I understand it, It’s going to change name again soon. I by no means is any kind of expert in acoustics but I have been to other concert halls with better sound where it felt like the music was surrounding me. I don’t get this feeling in Avery Fisher Hall. Also the restrooms are dated. They need a renovation.

No airflow, hot. A very uncomfortable place to sit for several hours. Acoustic are not too bad but certainly not great. I attended the performance as I was in town for business and the opportunity presented itself. I would not go back to AFH otherwise. Defiantly not worth a trip unless you are already I’m NYC.

Avery Fisher Hall offers a wide variety of performances for all ages.
(Just found out that Avery Fisher Hall will be retitled David Geffen Hall in September 2015).
Have seen many performances at this venue for the past 20 years. Recently, I have noticed the New York Philharmonic offers wonderful discounts even up to 50% off a single performance without a subscription.
During The week of August 9 through the 15^th, The New York Philharmonic had a special for purchasing tickets for $ 69.50 each (regularly up to $ 148.00 each).
Note: You had to choose three or more in a subscription to obtain the $ 69.50 price per ticket.
In order to take advantage of these wonderful offers, you need to place your email on their mailing list. If you haven’t been able to afford to attend a performance in the past, these discounts can definitely ease the wallet pressure.
In May, I attended «Bugs Bunny at the Symphony!”(Folks, Sorry for the review delay).
For you Baby Boomers, remember all the Classical Music from the Bugs Bunny cartoons? Well, that’s exactly what you got! The Superb NY Philharmonic performed along with Bugs Bunny and his friends cartoons that were on a super widescreen TV above the orchestra.
The audience had perpetual smiles on their faces :)
Some «What’s Up Doc!» extras at Avery Fisher Hall:
–Excellent and friendly customer service provided by employees at purchasing windows, intermission refreshment tables, ushers and security.
–Souvenir T-​shirts such as The Rabbit of Seville (The Barber of Seville) were sold. (Have included a photo below).
All in all, I think the adults had more fun than the kids at this performance!
Well, that’s all folks!!!

I have been to a performance at Lincoln Center at least twice now, once for a Broadway-​themed Valentine’s Day performance, and another for a Mostly Mozart concert with the Philharmonic.
The Philharmonic is outstanding, and I recommend seeing them every chance you get. They play in such perfect harmony. Our seats for this show were in the First Tier, first row — perfect seating, with no one in front of us. I would give the Philharmonic five stars if this was all I saw. The mostly Mozart concert also included a pre-​concert performance, which featured just 3 instruments. I don’t know why you wouldn’t take advantage of that — it was great! We sat in the orchestra seats for this, and it seems like there’s no seat that doesn’t have a good view in the orchestra section (except perhaps the very front left and right, where you’d have to strain your neck to see). We got a glass of wine in between the pre-​show and the actual performance, which was only mediocre, overpriced wine in a plastic cup that broke. You can enjoy the outdoors though and check out Lincoln Center from above on the balcony overlooking the fountains — makes for a great picture spot!
For the V-​Day performance, we were seated in a Third Tier box, which was pretty horrendous. We couldn’t see any of the musicians unless we leaned way out and interrupted the view of others seated beside us. Also the boxes are designed so that all you can see is the person or people in front of you — which in this case happened to be an older woman who was preoccupied with plucking out her hair one by one. It was driving me nuts. If you want to enjoy a show here, DON’T get a box seat.
All in all, I enjoyed my time here listening to the Philharmonic, and I will definitely be coming back — sitting in the front row of the first tier again. Tickets are usually not too expensive, and we even found a coupon for half off when we last booked our tickets!

Of the three largest Lincoln Center venues, this is my least favorite, purely for aesthetic reasons. Avery Fisher Hall looks like the décor has remained the same since the 1970s. I have seen the NY Philharmonic here three times in the past year and the Hall has understandably never become cute overnight. Superficialities aside, unless it was a special event involving a celebrity, I have always been able to obtain reasonably priced tickets for center row orchestra seats here. Regardless of whether I have sat in the front, center or back of the orchestra or one of the upper tiers, the acoustics have been more than adequate.
However, I suggest purchasing a seat closer to the front because (as may be the case throughout life) people tend to speak in the back of the venue. Also, the seats near the back of the hall tend to slightly slope upward so if you are not a tall person and are in the double alphabet rows (AA, BB, CC etc.) viewing the stage becomes difficult. Although you are not allowed to take pictures during a performance, I usually snap photos before a show and during intermission, if just to remember where I was when I almost fell asleep at all the dazzlingly soothing classical pieces being performed lived.
Be warned that the lines for the ladies bathroom on the first floor are always long line, as it is relatively tiny considering the gargantuan nature of the hall itself. I have never used coat check or the restaurants on the first floor since (as expected) they are pricier due to the special nature of where they are located. One of the primary reasons I love this hall is sheer laziness, as it has a subway in the basement, which makes getting lost among the various Lincoln Center theaters virtually impossible.

This performance hall never fails to amaze me! The performances and acoustics are great and they really know how to tend to their patrons!

I avoid this place like the plague. The acoustics are simply awful and, unless you have a seat near the very front you need high-​powered binoculars to see the performers!
There are so many better concert halls in NYC but unfortunately some of the best artists appear here.

I came to see the Ring of Fire show in this Beautiful performance hall. Picked up my tickets quickly, was ushered to my seat quickly, and enkoyed the presentation. In case you csnt identify the building, the Avery Fisher Hall is in the building that uas the New York Philharmonic sign above it. Take the A C D or E train to 59^th street and you can walk there in about 5 minutes.

I just saw a great orchestra show here, performed by two different High Schools. Getting to watch them perform really put into perspective how horrible my Junior High School band was because I mean these kids sounded like true professionals! This has always been a nice venue to hold events, so I knew I couldn’t have any real complaints aside for a bunch of people around me talking loudly, some lady having a suitcase where I actually should have been sitting, and this one baby continuously crying but whay’cha gonna do? Lol, these things are always expected… well, maybe not the suitcase lady =P
All in all this and my prior events here, have all been a great time.

Just finished seeing Yo-​YO Ma perform with the NY Philharmonic for a Chinese New Year performance… had a great time. Hope to come earlier to explore some more fo the area

Went to watch the New York Philharmonic play Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony. The piece was amazing and the orchestra was great.
All of the seats on the left and right side of the first, second, and third tiers do not have a complete view of the stage. Also, the sound isn’t nearly as full as other concert halls I’ve been in. There is no problem hearing the orchestra, but it doesn’t sound like you are being engulfed in sound the way it should when you are at a philharmonic concert. The concert was great, but the acoustics in the hall could be much better.

I’ve been here a few times for Mostly Mozart festival. It’s a small but quaint venue and is always sold out. There isn’t a bad seat in the house but the seats are close together, not much leg room, and can be a bit challenging getting in and out of the row. The sound is crisp and clear and is simply amazing.

I went to see the only performance by the amazing Itzhak Perlman and Rohan De Silva on Dec. 3, 14. The acoustics were not great, but that was not a surprise for me, because I went to this hall many times. What was unacceptable — the attitude of the people that work there!
I had very good TDF tickets for the first tier center and asked to change seats for any available aisle seat anywhere, because of my leg problem. The ticket office said they don’t change TDF tickets and go see the house manager. When I was entering, I asked for the manager and they said he is upstairs, so here I go climbing to the third floor only to be told that the manager is never upstairs but downstairs where I entered! Here I go again downstairs (with my leg already swollen from the stairs) and finally after asking everyone I locate the manager –Omar? Who says to go to ticket office, where they say again that if I want to change I HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER FULL PRICE TICKET! What exactly does the manager do? Nobody cared at all! Everybody was very impolite and disrespectful. And the manager wouldn’t even hear of accommodating me at any level!
So I just went upstairs again and took first aisle seat I could find (of which there were many available!) The concert was excellent, but the attitude of the people working here kills the mood completely! I don’t think I’ll ever come back here again!

This is a smaller venue in Lincoln Center. That has pros and cons. Cons are not all seats are great, be sure to ask before you buy where they are and about obstructed views etc. Pros are it offers a more intimate experience.
Ive only been on the floor where the acoustics are good. Traffic flow here is pretty easy actually, for a NYC venue.
Restrooms are busy here. Be prepared.

Great accoustics, but not the most practical architecture. If you’re sitting on the sides, you aren’t facing the stage, you’re facing the people sitting in the middle of the room. It made it pretty hard to see past the people sitting next to you (if they lean a few inches forward). The auditorium was pretty disappointing. But of course, the music is amazing!
Next time I’ll opt for the cheapest tickets since I know I probably won’t see the stage no matter where I am. I didn’t think it was worth getting nice tickets because of the set up of the seats.

I came here for the special New Year’s Eve concert with the Philharmonic. The concert was fun and really great. We sat in the top tier center section. The acoustics here are pretty good and we could see pretty well also. I love that the ushers were very friendly and helped me locate the men’s room quickly during the intermission. If you do go to a concert here I suggest getting the center section of the balconies since you will have to stretch your neck if you are on either side. But overall a must for any new yorker who wants to experience a live orchestra like the NY Phil.

Avery Fisher Hall is beautiful on the exterior and in the lobby, but it’s a bit lackluster once you enter the theatre. Lincoln Center is associated with elegance and modern beauty when it comes to the arts, but Avery Fisher Hall doesn’t live up to that.
I came here for a commencement ceremony, and upon entering the hall, I found myself disappointed. After all the theatres I’ve been to in New York City and Boston, this was nothing compared to most. It was shocking, considering the level of taste that Lincoln Center represents. I mean, once the stage was set and the decorations were displayed, the setting was a bit better, but that was at the hands of my college. The theatre itself was small, too. It’s an odd feeling to enter from the stunningly modernized lobby because the two are such a dichotomy. Going into the theatre is like entering an unkempt past.
Maybe I’m biased because I didn’t come here for an actual performance, but I wouldn’t be ecstatic to come here for another event.

Décor: ⁴⁄₅
–My graduation was here. Small yet clean and gorgeous venue.
–The seats are a tad bit close to the adjacent row, making it difficult for people to get to their seats.
–The interior décor is clean, the ceiling windows bring in plentiful light and the fountain outside is great for taking photos
–the lobby adjacent to the auditorium is a bit small and gets too congested