One of several cultural gems of Baltimore! Enjoyed Conductor Moon Doh's program of my favorite American composer George Gershwin! Last one I saw was Scheherazade, also great! Keep supporting the BSO! read more

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra - Performing Arts Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Really missed the mark with the July 3rd concert at Oregon Ridge. Baffling selection of music. Why not celebrate the uplifting songs of of country? Why not play all the patriotic songs? No need to try to be so clever and "different". Really bad. And please stop with the Wordsmith. read more

Came back to see Elf the movie with a live orchestra playing! It was so magical. Audience was respectful. I loved how the artists could wear cute little reindeer necklaces or something festive read more

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra - Performing Arts Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I love BSO and the variety of shows they offer. Its a great place in the community for people to go and experience some amazing live symphony music. From their movie series to contemporary music to classical shows they really do it all and do it all well! I love that ticket prices are never outrageous and its in a fun neighborhood where you really get to experience some of the charm of Baltimore before the show. I want to get their more in the coming years but the few shows ive been to so far have all been amazing! read more

You will never hear a bad word out of me for the BSO. This wonderful pillar of Baltimore's Art scene is always a win. I should just get season tickets at this point. From classical music, to family centered nights, to cinematic operatic movie showings, to contemporary music (just saw Nas for Illmatics 31st anniversary!) there is something for everyone at the BSO. Lets not forget that the our current music director is the youngest and a black man! read more

We have not been to the BSO in quite some time, and we were completely taken aback at the many changes that have taken place. We were surprised to see that Casual Friday has come to the BSO. Have we lost all sense of decorum? People were dressed in what looked like their pj's, sweatpants, hoodies, tennis shoes, and the like. In addition, we were appalled to see that snacks and drinks can now be taken into the concert hall. What a shame! There was a short performance in the main lobby by OrchKids prior to the main performance. Orchkids was started while Marin Alsop was the conductor in residence for the BSO. Their performance was brilliant. We had tickets in Box B on the Terrace Level, which we do not recommend to anyone. I had to lean over the rail to only see half of the stage. (We were so close to the lights!) It was nice to have Marin Alsop return to conduct. She received a rousing welcome from the audience. There were two pieces played - Carlos Simon "Amen" and Charles Ives "Symphony No. 2" before the intermission. What we really came for was to see Yuchan Lim play the Sergei Rachmaninoff "Piano Concerto No 3 in C Minor. op 18." Mr. Lim brought the house down. He is the youngest person ever to win gold at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the age of 18. Mr. Lim had several curtain calls and played one encore. It was an incredible performance by Mr. Lim, Marin Alsop, and the BSO orchestra. read more

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I was a season ticket holder at Center Stage pre-covid. They had pretty strict rules about vaccinations and masks that I didn't quite meet. Don't get me wrong I'm not an anti-vax or anti-mask but I never got boosted and didn't feel the need to, which was part of their requirements. Anywho . . . Over the last 18 months or so, in order to get my arts fix, I have been spending a lot more time at the BSO. And I'm so glad I did! It's been wonderful and I have absolutely grown to love this place even more than I thought I would! The diversity of shows and the types of artistry that are showcased here are incredible! I've seen ballets and acrobatics akin to Cirque du Soleil and movies and Grammy award winning singers; every single show has been amazing. For the 2023-2024 season I've decided to purchase season tickets. Not only to support the orchestra as a whole but also to see the wonderful work of the youngest and first ever black music director. I'm super excited for what the next 5 years will hold with Jonathon at the helm. read more

An absolutely beautiful venue. We've seen the orchestra alone, the orchestra as they play along to movies, and stand up comedians perform- no matter the style of entertainment the events have been fantastic. There really isn't a bad seat in the house- the acoustics are splendid. Parking is easy, staff are friendly, seats are comfortable. read more

Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Box Office Ticket sales, the Jonathan Rush - GospelFest, April 3rd, 2025. This is to express one of the worse examples of customer service I have experienced. The event was the Jonathan Rush - GospelFest. (Order #49329369). Being an avid concert patron, I have attended many venues in the DC, Maryland areas and never have I experienced the poor customer service, lack of professionalism, and disrespect we received dealing with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Jonathan Rush - GospelFest event through the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Box Office Ticket sales. We purchased two tickets for the event more than a month before the event. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Jonathan Rush - GospelFest Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Thursday, Apr 03, 2025 @ 7:30PM in Baltimore, MD Section: Orchestra Left * Row: B * Qty: 2 We received an email confirmation following them processing the payment for our tickets. BoxOfficeTicketSales.com To: me · Fri, Mar 7 at 6:42 PM The first concern, unlike most venues, we did not get our electronic tickets, but instead were informed they would not make the tickets available until the day of the concert. A month after purchase of our tickets came the first red flag. We received a call from the box office telling us they had "double booked" our seats. There was no explanation for how this happened and why since we had purchased our tickets a month earlier. Yet they wanted to move us and not the other party. The box office promised to find us new seats, at which time we made it clear that the seat needed to be on the aisle because I would be in a wheelchair. The next red flag came a day later when someone from the box office called saying they found seats on row EE. But still could not tell us the seat numbers. She promised she would put a hold on the tickets because the box office would not be open until the next day. We trusted and believed in her. The next day she contacted us and told us someone else took those tickets. By this time, I was tired of the run around and broken promises no longer interested, but the tickets were purchased as a gift. She now wanted to move us to row GG, but still no seat numbers, and no indication they were aisle seats. Yet they wanted us to wait until we arrived on the day of the concert to find out where our seats were. I asked for a refund, and she stated their policy would not allow it because we said we would consider row GG, but they never confirmed the seats. However, the box office policy did not apply to them giving our original tickets away, nor the second set. We were not refunded the price of the tickets, and we did not attend the concert. Some how I don't think this an isolated incident, from the incompetent way they handled our purchase. read more

I've been to the BSO many times over the years for plays, concerts, graduations, and even a comedy show. My latest visit was to see Hiplet, which was a great show. The BSO is a grand old building with three tiers of seating. I was pretty confused about the seating last time I was there, as I was up on the top tier and had no clue how to get there nor where my seat was located. Luckily the BSO volunteers (or staff?) got me sorted out. Unfortunately this show, I realized how the rows of seats are easily vibrated. Some misbehaving child down 5 seats from me had the entire row rocking and it was extremely distracting. I know that not under the BSOs control (and should have been addressed by the kid's mom) but still. I would have enjoyed the show more if the rows were more structurally sound. Otherwise looking forward to other events here! read more

So I'm not a usual concert goer so this my first time! I was involved in orchestra in school but haven't gone on my own time. We went for the lunar new year event which was really cool! Loved the performances beforehand and the orchestra pieces in between. The building was beautiful & it was a cool experience. My only thing was I wish they had bathrooms on every floor or at least drinking fountains. But very a nice building nonetheless! read more

A wonderful night out with my daughter. I picked up our tickets from will call, a very easy process. The parking was a little tricky. Parking was available across the street, but they only took cash. You can pay for parking at the last two windows of will call but they have a cut off time (I believe 30 minutes before start time). That parking is behind the Symphony hall (a little walk). Finding our seats was very simple...floor seating and 4 upper levels as well. The facility was very nice and a great place for family or night out with friends. Security is present and they do check bags before allowing you to enter. Overall, a great night and I look forward to coming again. read more

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra - Inside the symphony hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Nothing like classical music to soothe the soul. It was a delight to see the BSO under the direction of Maestra Marin Alsop on the first night of the BSO's 2011-2012 season. Maestra Alsop was wonderful to watch - graceful, delicate and energetic. It was nice to watch a director who the orchestra responds to and isn't the only star of the show. The opening concert featured Mahler's Resurrection. It was an impressive concert of instruments, the Baltimore Choral Arts Society and featured opera soloists. I love the sound in the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The acoustics are designed to provide a fantastic experience from each seat. The seats and legroom are very comfortable, even for a longer concert since it is a modern symphony hall versus a traditional theater. If you so happen to go unwillingly or you don't have a chance for pre-theater dinner and drinks, you can grab a drink or light snack in the lobby before the performance or during intermission. read more

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra - Performing Arts Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Very nice venue. Perfect for an intimate type concert or comedy show. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There is a parking garage and you can almost always find street parking. read more

I wish I could do a negative star. The staff was very rude and not accomadating. I was running late for a show because I could not find parking and the employees there were not nice at all! The show was good but that experience tainted the entire experience. Be aware. read more

The Meyerhoff is simply beautiful. I came this past weekend for the Mozart's Great Mass and had a great time. The acoustics were great as well. Our seats were in the Terrace Center, which were pretty high up, but we could still hear and see the concert perfectly. The staff members were very friendly and accommodating. They were quick to notice my confused looks and helped guide us in the right direction of our seats. Also, during the concert, there was a baby that kept making noise (why you would bring a baby to a symphony is beyond me). After many obvious head turns, a staff member politely asked the parent and baby to leave. read more

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra - view from Terrace Center - row G - Performing Arts Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Perfect parking spot waiting for me and all. I was a little pressed for time. I thought that I was going to have to spend too much time looking for a parking spot. But, that didn't happen. There was a handicap spot still availble and due to the plate and screws that I have in my ankle I was able to put my pass to use. I love this place. Its oooooo sooooo clean. The people are all so friendly. I was here to see Drumline Live. This was an excellent show. This is one event that I will be putting on my list of things to do once a year. And I love that they chose to perform here. read more

The BSO performance itself was great; we saw Bond & Beyond, and the singer and musicians were spot-on. The conductor had a great personality and sense of humor and added an extra bit of fun to the show. The venue itself could use a bit in the way of roomier seats, and the bathrooms weren't great. It's also not in the best location... there is only one garage that is very close, and it usually fills up and can only be used by BSO members who have parking coupons or something like that (according to a sign at the entrance). We had to park about a half mile away and walk in the rain (because for some reason Baltimore doesn't have many cabs) to the BSO. read more

***This review is for Meyerhoff Symphony Hall as a venue, not for the BSO. I've never seen the BSO, and I wrote this review when MSH had its own Yelp listing. For some reason the building itself is now lumped together with the BSO, despite the fact that many other shows/performers play this space.*** Meyerhoff Symphony Hall is a great event venue. The hall and foyer *are* a bit outdated and 70s-ish, but at this point we'd almost be able to call it "stylishly retro" as opposed to "outdated." And the symphony hall itself is a beautiful space, sophisticated, glossy, and well-maintained. There doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house (and the seats themselves are quite comfortable). The light wood stage and paneling are lovely, and the acoustics -- obviously -- are brilliant. We were here to see Jerry Seinfeld, and we could make him out clearly on stage as well as hear him perfectly, even from our upper tier nosebleed seats in the suspended egg sections. Wish I had pics of those egg pods...visit the BSO website, you'll see. My gripe about the Meyerhoff has to do with the traffic and parking situation. Although our frustrating experience may have had something to do with the fact that Seinfeld performed two shows that night, the Meyerhoff often hosts multiple shows in a day. The hall is located in a bit of a congested area, and when we arrived for the 9:30 show, the 7:00 show was just getting out. The vehicle and foot traffic created absolute bedlam. There were traffic cops directing the *throngs* of vehicles choking the area immediately surrounding the Meyerhoff, however, so there was a little method to the madness. Maybe the whole ordeal is better at single-performance events, but it took us 30 minutes waiting in line before we were able to get into the parking garage. And I'm not sure street parking is even feasible on event nights. Garage parking is $11 and cash only. read more

The BSO has struggled to remain competitive compared to other peers. Leadership has failed to innovate and this change in the 52 weeks to 40 weeks was very poorly handled. I've tried to support the BSO over the years and encourage others in the community, but leadership has lost the locals trust. Cancelling the summer shows last minute definitely made everything worse.. read more

It is a shame that everyone here seems to be in the over 80 crowd. I mean, I like old people a lot, but it would be nice if some younger people wanted to enjoy a night out at the symphony as well. I, along with two of my companions, received many compliments in the lobby before the show, "It's so nice to see some young people here!" Tip: You can get $10 student tickets on the day of the performance, as long as it isn't a sold out show. Anyway, it is a lovely venue and Pictures at an Exhibition was wonderful. The acoustics are great. There was a lady a few rows in front of me opening a cough drop or something for what felt like an hour and I could hear every crinkle perfectly crisp and clear. read more

Great venue - clean, lovely, with accessible parking. There is no bad seat in the house (unless you're smack up front I guess). I've been here for a variety of events - from orchestral, to graduations, to concerts. I've never had a bad experience. Definitely a gem in Baltimore. read more

Last night, we thoroughly enjoyed watching Home for the Holidays. They performed classic Christmas songs, a large group of Santa's went on stage and gave us a wonderful tap performance, and we heard students from nearby performing arts school sing their hearts out. read more

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra - Home for the Holidays - Performing Arts Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Fabulous experience! We had grand tier seating for the recent 'Fantasia' performance and enjoyed every minute. The sound was amazing and the seats were very comfortable. I would recommend this to anyone! read more

It is a beautiful concert hall and very convenient to the Cultural Center light rail and Mt Vernon neighborhood. However, once you are on a mailing list for this organization, BSO will call you Every. Single. Week. to tell you about upcoming shows. Seriously. Even after getting "removed" from the list, they still called, and I ended up programming BSO into my phone so I could screen their calls (every Friday or Tuesday at 7:30, like clockwork). It is a huge turnoff, and after attending a single show, I am not sure I want to buy tickets with a credit card from there ever again due to this mailing list! Cash only, so they don't get my name! :/ And I used to work for the nonprofit industry...it's like going on a single Ok date and then the other person won't stop harrassing you to death to go out again. Even if you had a good time, you are turned off!! read more

Came here for graduation. The audience and hall area were clean and comfortably appointed. The lighting was warm and the environmental controls were spot on even for a warm day. The decor in the hall and the foyer is showing a bit of age and the foyer can be a bit hectic when it is busy with a big event. An enjoyable venue nevertheless. read more

Meyerhoff Symphony Hall - 1 Star Baltimore Symphony Orchestra - 4 Star The Hall has great acoustics. I was very impressed. But what bothered me was the air quality. The heat was cranked high. I'm not sure of the exact temperature, but it was uncomfortably hot in there last night. I'm wondering if that may be intentional to cater to their demographic, old women with poor circulation. More on that later. Also, the air was so dry that it actually hurt my eyes. During the entire symphony, my eyes were in agony as they tried to overproduce tears to make up for the insanely dry air. The orchestra itself was great. I don't really understand why the demographics last night seemed to be women over the age of 80. I've been to several different orchestras across the US. While the demographics have always seemed to be older than me, I've never before seen one this far skewed toward one gender and one age group in that gender. I wish more middle-aged and younger people would realize the quality and skill in classical music. I really would like to give this a higher rating. But the ungodly uncomfortable air quality is simply preventing it. read more

This was my first time! Absolutely amazing. It's clean. Lots of seating. Parking was easy to find. We saw Harry Potter and I cannot wait to go back for other shows. The drinks are kind of overpriced but what do you expect. Dress up a little bit and have fun! read more

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra - Harry Potter - Performing Arts Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The Baltimore Symphony has undergone something of a resurgence lately, led by the first female conductor of a major American Orchestra, Marin Alsop. She's transformed the orchestra into a powerhouse and has them recording again and broadcasting live on XM Satellite Radio. Concerts are fairly cheap ($25/seat, $10 for student tickets to some performances) and the quality of the orchestra is outstanding. In addition, Alsop has put the focus squarely on composers living today, and you'll get to hear the cutting edge of classical music in addition to some of the more traditional pieces you'd expect at the symphony. Already this year there have been works featuring drum pads, synthesizers, techno beats, and multimedia presentations. A tip: If you sign up for the email list you'll often get last minute offers for incredibly great deals on tickets. 2-for-1 specials, $10 tickets, drink specials. Sure, it means you have to be spontaneous sometimes, but it's worth it. Also, sometimes even without the email specials, tickets on the day of a performance are cheap, even in the best sections. read more

I'm going to start a Marin Alsop Fan Club! Seriously, this woman rocks!!! Today I saw the BSO perform a sold-out Leonard Bernstein's "Mass" at the Kennedy Center (where they typically do not perform). Far too many conductors are older white guys, and quite a few just stick to the traditional Brahms, Beethoven, etc. repertoires. Undoubtedly few would be willing or able to put on a piece like Bernstein's Mass, which calls for an orchestra (including extra instruments like acoustic and electric guitar), a kids chorus, an adult chorus, a soloist, a vocal ensemble of 20 (who dance at one point) and even a marching band. Yet Marin Alsop (who trained w/ Bernstein) pulled it off flawlessly. The whole kit and kaboodle not only earned a standing ovation but even many shouts of "Bravo!," which is not something you hear on a regular basis. read more

Baltimore's respectable attempt at creating the sense of city-life with an affordable symphony orchestra that doesn't seem reek of low-rent. The events are varied so the calendar is worth keeping an eye on. Certainly one of Baltimore's "crown jewels." read more

We enjoyed the BSO and the Holiday Spectacular in December 2010. A great show for all ages, and appropriate for a family as well. The lobby was completely decorated for the season, with decorated trees, pictures iwth santa, and a handbell choir playing from the second floor. Simple refreshments were available as well as the gift shop, the Symphony Store. read more

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I'm not a regular orchestra goer but came back for their october dvorak symphony no. 8 concert after seeing them do bowie in the summer. I am very impressed with the BSO. We had front row seats. I recommend parking in the lot nearby and also eating before going. I was starving and the concert ran long. They don't have any decent offerings during intermission and lines are long. I love the passion the musicians and the conductor have for the music...I got lost in the emotion of the music. The BSO has made a classical music fan out of me. We will be back for a xmas concert. read more

Ahhhhhmazing!!!! I don't get to Baltimore often but one of my favorite artists (emeli sande) had as how here and I was pleasantly surprised. The parking situation is a little chaotic, but I detoured all of that and just parked on an adjacent street for free. Once we got in, I was blown away at how gorgeous this place is. Words won't even describe his place well, it's just a great venue. Inside the hall, our seats were about 20 rows back and the sound was just as nice as the decor. They do have seating higher in balconies, not sure what the view s like up there. Another bonus was the availability of the bar and the icing on the cake was the low price. My wine was only $7 and they had a full bar full of lots of other options. I'll definitely be back! read more

What an enjoyable experience! We saw the BSO preform at the Meyerhoff, so beautiful inside. We were there for the Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and The Rite of Spring. They rocked it! Amazing and fun! read more

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra - Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto & The Rite of Spring - Performing Arts Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Beautiful place! My husband and I had such a great night here seeing the zelda symphony orchestra. 5 stars all around. Parking garage right next to the venue, very convenient! Hope to be back again for another show soon. Get a bite to eat before your show at the little mexican bistro on the corner. read more

I love the Baltimore Symphony. I've been a fan for many years, and I'll be a fan for many more. I wish they'd do more adventurous programming like they used to. The director seems to be trying to dumbing down a bit? (Lots of Beethoven? Dvorak symphonies? Bernstein Mass? Star Wars?) I don't know if that's a conscious effort or not... like they think Baltimore public can't handle more? Marin Alsop used to have some nice programs, like Tan Dun, Honnegger, Ades, Mozart... but, every once in a while I'll scratch my head with the Mussorgsky Pictures, and the Beethoven 5, and the Bernstein Mass, and the Afternoon of a Faun... really? If I wanted to hear a youth orchestra concert, I'd go across the street to Peabody. You have world-renown players here, use them! Show us something we wouldn't hear on public radio and kids' concerts. Don't get me wrong. It's all beautifully played. But we've heard it before. Lately, I've noticed that some programs are getting repeated every year. I don't get that. read more

4.5 stars for the music. 1 star for the venue and its management. 2 stars for the audience. Coming from Chicago and being a frequent Chicago Symphony Orchestra patron when I lived there, I am spoiled when it comes to classical music concerts. That said, the BSO does a splendid job. I even enjoy the Pops concerts... Jack Everly does a great job putting together entertaining, but also musically appreciable concerts. I remember Maestra Alsop pulling out a Philip Glass work for an encore once that was simply incredible and was played fantastically. I do get a bit frustrated that the concerts are usually only two or three-day runs (more if you include concerts at Strathmore) while the CSO usually plays the same program for a week, which allows for more flexible attendance. (Although, Orchestra Hall in Chicago is incredibly tight and cramped compared to Meyerhoff Hall, which is a cavernous venue with spacious seats and modern decor. Perhaps the CSO runs each program for a week because they have less capacity!) On the other hand, I simply despise the other aspects of going to the symphony. The food and beverage options are terrible and overpriced. There used to be sandwiches with chips and cookies, which became sandwiches and chips, and now has become just sandwiches. And the price has gone up as they have removed all these things! All the drinks are incredibly expensive and the staff at the bars are very curt and unfriendly. There needs to be better dining options, especially since there aren't any good restaurants immediately near the concert hall. If it was a premium product I would not object to paying premium prices but this is currently not the case. Also, there is only one street entrance to symphony hall which causes the ticket lobby to become overcrowded. The parking is expensive ($11) for what is only a few hours' worth, and it's cash only. If possible, park on the street, especially on Sundays when it isn't enforced, but the light rail has a stop close by, so when the weather is good public transportation is a workable option (unless there is an O's game or something else going on in Baltimore, then you can bet it will be packed). The only other disappointment is that it seems that many audience members simply do not understand the necessity of proper concert etiquette. I cannot count the number of times I have sat near the random woman constantly unzipping her purse to get out another cough drop and then unwrapping it with all the distracting crinkling, only to then start noisily rummaging around in her purse again... especially during the quiet moments of a work. Or people who start talking loudly to one another while the orchestra is playing. Or the guy who brings in a water bottle that makes a scrunching noise every time he takes a sip... I could go on and on. These things seriously disrupt what could be otherwise enjoyable concerts. At a recent concert, Maestra Alsop remarked: "Great cities must have great orchestras, and by that measure, this is one of the greatest cities in the world." That statement certainly describes how she feels about the BSO and the community it serves. I believe the BSO will continue to grow and improve with her at the helm, and I definitely look forward to future performances. read more

Bravo! The BSO played for the Holiday Spectacular and they were amazing! I love the way Baltimore makes the arts so accessible for everyone. Tickets are reasonably-priced. I urge everyone to find a way to enjoy the BSO, whether that be a show or purchasing their music. read more

The orchestra is amazing! For music lovers, they have great shows. I wish they performed more and for less but isn't that what we all would want! I've enjoyed every performance they've done over the years. They also perform at The Lyric and Strathmore and of course Oregon Ridge for July Fourth. They tend to blend a bit of popular and favorites along with every show. That makes great business sense. read more