The area in front of and below the stage of an opera theatre, in which the orchestra is located during performances. The pit often extends under the front portion of the stage, and few orchestral players have any visual contact with the singers performing above them. The conductor, standing centrally at the front of the pit, needs a clear view of both stage above and orchestra below. He has the toughest job in opera, co-ordinating these two physically separate forces into a combined performing ensemble, and ensuring an acoustical balance between them.
