richard b. fisher center for the performing arts

My husband and I have enjoyed each and every symphonic and theater performance in the Frank Gehry designed Fisher Center.The acoustics are wonderful and the seating allows you to feelintimate with the musicians and actors.Another not to miss venue on the Bard Campus.

Can't count the number of performances we have seen here. From music, dance and lectures. I like the floor seating. Great acoustics and no obstructed views. The box seats are frightening. Precariously perched with no railing and uncomfortable seating. Avoid them if you can.

Beautiful theatre/music hall designed by Frank Gehry on the Bard College campus, hosts classical music, theatre and dance. Good sound, comfortable and generally quite affordable. Often unusual choices bring world-class cultural fare to upstate NY.

This beautiful building on the bucolic campus of Bard College was designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Set into the rolling hills of this Hudson River Valley college, the building is worth seeing for its own sake, but we make the "pilgrimage" there from lower Westchester County for world-class performances of opera during the college's summer music festival. I didn't rate it excellent because although the building is beautiful and the auditorium lovely and comfortable, it wasn't designed intelligently inside for those of us who have trouble walking up and down stairs. We had orchestra seats but had to walk two flights of stairs to get to them and back up those steps to get to a rest room. Yes, there's an elevator, but that only saves you from climbing one flight. To get to and from handicapped parking, there are even more steps! Or you can ask for a ride in one of their golf carts. Maybe there are seats easily accessible if requested when buying tickets, but we assumed orchestra seating would be accessible.

The Fisher Center is widely recognized for having been designed by Frank Gehry and for hosting world class performances. At the orchestra and parterre levels, the sight lines are unobstructed; the seats comfortable. In the balconies, a rather clever design allows for double seating in the "boxes". Unfortunately, the sight lines from the outside seats are severely compromised. As in most performing arts centers, the bathrooms, though clean, don't come close to meeting the demand put on them at intermissions. The ushers are uniformly helpful and friendly, although the theater's policy of seating people after a performance has begun is ill advised and disrespectful of both the artists and the audience. The same could be said for holding the curtain for late arrivals. This practice simply trains audiences to be late. The grounds at Bard College are attractive and provide a congenial setting for pre-theater picnics. The parking is ample.