UKC

Is there much of a view of the "stage" from the side aisles at the Minster? Ditto with the sound from the side aisles? All is dependent on the idea that I could get there early enough to choose one of the better seats.

I'm pondering going to York Early Music Festival, possibly on Saturday night. Then to stay overnight and go do some peak or other on the Sunday. Probably sleep in my van, hopefully somewhere in the north with no midges.... The alternative would be to climb with someone, but I think that it is going to be wet on Sunday.

The alternative is to buy a front or rear Nave seat, which is a definite seat so sight and sound can be of a certain expectation. Front seats (of which only ones to the back remain) £40, Rear £30, Side £15.

Plenty of floorplans for the Minster on google. There isn't a stage set up normally but assuming it goes in front of the choir screen somewhere in the crossing the forward portions of the aisles will have a decent if partially restricted view, the rear parts of the aisles will have little to no view. The minster can seat several hundred in the nave alone so I suspect all the seating will be well forward in an arc around the stage with decent views unless I'm underestimating the appeal of early music. If it's amplified you're at the mercy of whoever does the sound, it's been fine for anything I've been to. The Minster's own PA is ok but I doubt they'd use it for a concert. If it's acoustic, I have no idea but it'd be interesting.

jk

I heard The Thirteen in the Minster at the York Early Music Festival last year. I was sat near the back. At the beginning, a small group sang in the aisle near where I was sat, then continued to the stage. The sound at that point was much better than for the rest of the evening (though that was still gorgeous), and I wished I had been nearer the front. I don’t know what the sound was actually like at the front, and I’ve cloth ears, so take that with a pinch of salt, but if I was there again I would make an effort to be as close to the stage as possible. I hope you enjoy it, wherever you are.

Have a lovely time. I do like to be able to see at concerts as well as hear, so I hope you find just the right seat!

Thank you all.