again, this gina franscone pointed out things i always appreciated and really was not conscious of. it is a different symphony hall from what you see in europe. no chandeliers, no heavy decoration and by the way the hall is steel framed so that you don't have heavy columns having to support things above you and it is a steel framed hole but the steel frame was looked into a brick bearing wall, heavy stone bearing wall on both sides and the hall itself is steel framed and you can see views of it under construction at carnegie hall's site, at least at the current time. you notice the boxes have no partitions between them, totally unlike european houses, so it is much more physically open, much more democratic. everybody sees everybody. it is probably better for the sound as well. that wonderful stage with that kind of conch shell curving which cups the sound, the stage, you notice no curtains, no froufrou, none of that and it is fascinating how the stage slightly dips into the audience, all of which seems to work for the marvelous acoustics carnegie hall is known for and so besides th