orchestra
large group of musicians
A big group of musicians who play music together, usually with a conductor.
an orchestra plays [music]
- The orchestra began the concert with a powerful symphony.
- She plays the violin in a local community orchestra.
- The film’s music was recorded by a full 80-piece orchestra.
- The conductor stopped the orchestra and asked the brass section to play more softly.
- Tickets are more expensive when a live orchestra accompanies the show.
- The orchestra is playing tonight at eight o’clock.
- My brother plays trumpet in the school orchestra.
- We listened to a large orchestra in the city hall.
- The conductor stands in front of the orchestra.
- The orchestra plays music for the ballet dancers.
main floor seats near stage
The part of a theater where people sit on the main floor, close to the stage.
orchestra seats in [a theater]
- We paid extra for orchestra seats so we could see the actors’ faces clearly.
- The orchestra section was almost full, but the balcony still had plenty of empty seats.
- From the orchestra, the sound of the singers was much stronger.
- They prefer to sit in the orchestra rather than in the upper levels.
- The theater offers discounted tickets for students in the rear of the orchestra.
- We had orchestra seats for the musical.
- She likes to sit in the orchestra, close to the stage.
- The orchestra section was full, so we sat in the balcony.
- Our tickets are for row C in the orchestra.
- From the orchestra, we could see every detail on the stage.
- Base: orchestra
- Plural: orchestras
chamber orchestra
1smaller-sized classical orchestra
A smaller orchestra, with fewer players, that usually plays music written for a small group of instruments.
- The festival features a chamber orchestra rather than a full symphony orchestra.
- He prefers playing in a chamber orchestra because it feels more intimate.
school orchestra
1orchestra made of students
An orchestra made of students who play music together at their school.
- Her daughter plays flute in the school orchestra.
- The school orchestra will perform at the end-of-year concert.
string orchestra
1orchestra of only string instruments
An orchestra that is made up only of string instruments, such as violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.
- The piece was written for a string orchestra without any wind instruments.
- Our school has both a full orchestra and a string orchestra.
symphony orchestra
1large classical music orchestra
A large orchestra that plays symphonies and other classical music pieces.
- She won an audition with the city’s symphony orchestra.
- The symphony orchestra will perform Beethoven’s Fifth this weekend.
orchestra pit
1space below stage for orchestra
The open space in front of and below the stage in a theater where the orchestra sits and plays.
- The orchestra pit was so deep that the musicians were almost hidden from the audience.
- The conductor stepped into the orchestra pit and raised his baton.
- During the rehearsal, the conductor asked the singers not to stand too close to the orchestra pit.
- From our seats we could just see the tops of the instruments in the orchestra pit.