Sat front row at the symphony...

@viper6 Yes, I’ve heard live music in NYC subways throughout the 2000s’ to 2018, the last time I visited.

LA is blasting classical music to deter homeless people from gathering at metro stations The Los Angeles Metro is using classical music on its light rail system to deter homeless people from congregating and sleeping in a downtown station.https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-04-04/loud-classical-music-macarthur-park-metro-los-angeles-decibel-meter

I still won’t use the LA subway for all the classical music they play because it is dangerous and dirty, plus it is 25 miles south of me (I reside in the San Fernando Valley part of LA City). Mexico City has a superior subway as well as the sterling Tokyo one.    And this appropriate article: https://www.dailywire.com/news/psychological-torture-chamber-l-a-subway-plays-classical-music-critics-go-bonkers?fbclid=IwAR3WEcUPGnV5BKOf4vI-gRaCcGIC7dJuNaqgwD_qFVKKbDoyDmAA8T3EYlw

Los Angeles County continues to promote public transit growth/development and continuously greater funding despite the current funding sufficient to provide free transportation for all who need it. Simultaneously, fewer riders of public transportation and attacks on private vehicle transportation through the elimination of streets to bicycles. 

Orchestral music, at its best, is enjoyed sumptuously not in rows 1-5, but beyond that, centrally from the 5th through the 8th rows.  Professional, performing musicians understand the concept of "soundstage" and where it is best heard.

@7452jf,

Completely agree with you in your statement regarding California Center for the Arts, Escondido. I’ve been there a handful of times myself, and in fact one of my daughters was briefly enrolled (one year) at Classical Academy Middle School directly across from.

Please tell me you’ve attended “The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park.”

:-)

@lfssbn1 YES +1

The talk here about optimal seating when attending live orchestral performances is definitely fascinating and helpful for me, and I appreciate all the contributions here.
Gives me something to think about next time.
As the saying goes, anything worth doing is worth doing right.
Should $ and circumstances allow, I would be well advised to enjoy the performance optimally.