Fed up with people making noise at classical shows

Learsfool, I sat in the front row for years.  I had exactly this discussion with an orchestra member that I sat 6 feet away from for about 5 years (who I would never have gotten to know from the dress circle).  My thoughts-- The Indianapolis Circle theater has bad acoustics.  If you sit more than about 8 rows back, it sounds about like an early 50's Toscanini recording (alas, without Toscanini).  I have so many treasured memories.  Ehnes' opening of the Dvorak concerto melted my heart.  Lynn Harrell and Philip Palermo playing the lovely Dvorak concerto duet, Hillary Hahn/Bach, a Russian guest conductor instructing the Russian principal cellist, "non troppo," which I found quite amusing, watching how hard the orchestra works during a Beethoven symphony-- I could go on, but you get the idea.  Sitting further back in that hall one looses so much of the total experience.  I will admit that in halls where I know the acoustics to be better, I will sit further back, but not too far back.  Most of us have reasonably resolving systems and extensive libraries.  We can stay home an get a plausible dress circle sound.  When I go to a live performance, I want things I can only get close to the front.  Schubert's point is also good.  Sitting near the front takes much of the audience out of the picture until the piece is over.  

I usually prefer mid-hall seating at classical concerts. My one experience sitting in the very first row for a performance by full orchestra was at a concert many years ago at Tanglewood during which the BSO performed Prokofiev’s "Romeo and Juliet." I would estimate that peak volumes reached 115 to 120 db, and I noticed out of the corner of my eye at one point that my wife (who frequently asks me to set the volume on our system a bit higher than I tend to prefer) had her hands placed over her ears. :-)

Even in the case of chamber concerts featuring string quartets or other small ensembles, as well as solo piano, I find peak volume levels at or near front row center to verge on being uncomfortable. At least, that is, in smallish halls that don’t have large stage areas, and have seating that is close to the performers.

Best regards,
-- Al

Where you sit in a given hall is a function of the acoustics in that hall.
In my "home hall", the Ordway Concert hall in St. Paul, the first
row seat lets you hear every player in the St Paul Chamber Orch and is not overly loud.

The Ordway has fantastic acoustics , only  other1100ish seat hall I’ve heard  at its level is
the Sibelius Hall in Lahti, Finland

When I go to chamber concerts in a 750-seater where I live, I sometimes sit closer or further from the stage depending on how much "hall sound" I want.  It is a little louder close up, but that's not a problem with small groups.  Orchestra concerts are a rarity for me, it's just not my thing for the most part.

I always preferred a Row J or K seat in the orchestra at  the NJPAC, gave me the right overall balance.  NJPAC has excellent acoustics.  Must admit, though, I would miss some of the interaction that Brownsfan refers to, though I could get that in the rehearsals I attended.  In the chamber and folk concerts I attend down here in Williamsburg, I actually prefer a back seat (small hall), but part of that is at my age I like to stretch out my legs, and the back seats don't have a row in front of them!  Sometimes comfort trumps sonics.