Orchestra pit
The pit is in theaters or opera houses the recess between the stage and audience area, in which the band passes, and the conductor is located (or is). The latter usually sits on a pedestal so that the orchestra and singers can see him equally well on stage.
In the 18th century the orchestras played at the height of the audience in the stalls in front of the raised stage. The orchestra pit was developed to allow the audience a clear view of the stage without having to move the orchestra behind or next to the stage. In terms of stage technology, the orchestra pit is still part of the auditorium. Most of the orchestra pits are slightly covered by the stage ramp. This sinking of the orchestra only became common in the 19th century. Usually it is still visible to the audience. There are only invisible orchestral pits in the Bayreuth Festival Hall , there called the “mystical abyss”, and in Oberammergau .
An orchestra pit generally worsens the acoustics of the orchestra, but allows musicians to come and go who have to wait long pauses. It is important to have optimal sound radiation, which not only allows the orchestral sound to come into its own in the audience, but also allows the musicians and singers to hear each other without excessive sound levels . Sometimes the orchestra setup has to be adapted to the acoustic properties.
An orchestra pit can be covered for drama performances or concerts on the stage. In many modern orchestra pits , the floor can be adjusted with a lifting platform , so it can be adapted to the size of the orchestra and the style of music and staging.
