I attended Jo Koy's stand up and Harry Potter live with the symphony... both events were awesome Parking for Sunday events aren't so bad. There are parking spaces nearby if you're willing to look The stage's architecture is beautiful You check in and the ushers are friendly and helpful Has a concession on both floors I've been on. Snacks, soda, alcohol, mocktails.. they got it. Popcorn and a Harry Potter mocktail was a good choice You should adventure the other parts of the building Hope to be back soon read more

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I'm cultured af. I enjoy throwing on my short sleeved button up that I got on sale from Kohl's, using $10 worth of Kohl's Cash that my mom gave me, jeans and my most un-grungy pair of slip-on Vans, to take in a beautiful evening of oboes, violins and some bald guy rocking the triangle like the high society snob that I really am. I came here during Comic-Con to watch Back to the Future while the symphony played the score live. It was awesome. Old guys in suits, kids dressed as Marty and Doc and me in the aforementioned Kohl's get up. Copley is older but they do a good job of keeping it up while maintaining the intended aesthetic. It's not the Ritz but it's clean, comfortable and fun. All of he ushers are retired volunteers who do it for love of music and that's hard to hate on. Fun stuff and I, for one, am glad we have this in San Diego. read more

Here for Ludovici Einaudi piano concert fourth row center on main floor, what's not to like? For this particular event the least expensive tickets we found (with the lowest surcharge) were from Ticketmaster - nothing was available for this particular event directly from the SD Symphony. Lighting and acoustics are exceptional, seating comfortable, and located on the ground floor (no elevators needed) so getting in and out is fairly painless. Ushers could do a better job of keeping flash photography from happening during shows - someone near us kept activating the bright light on her iPhone that remained on for several long seconds at a time while she composed pictures. People kept turning around and looking hard in her direction but she didn't get it. When it happened a third time and I realized that it was a lady sitting right by us in our row, I firmly told her "You're not supposed to do that. Please!" and she quickly lowered the phone and didn't do it again. We parked kitty corner to the building, at the ABM lot (corner 8th and B), $25. During event times there are long lines at this lot to use the automated parking ticket machines, but $25. cash to the attendant will bypass that line. Symphony Valet available, $25. but they seemed overloaded as we pulled up. We didn't know, but just a block past the building at 6th and B (entrance via 6th) is the Union Bank building with $10. parking Fri/Sat nights only. Street parking if you find it is free after 6pm. The 4th District Court of Appeal is located on the third floor of this building, and the University Club (a high end (but a little dated) social club with a small gym) is on the 34th floor. read more

As an ABA member, you certainly get perks!!! Came here to watch Jacobs Masterworks Beethoven Festival featuring pianist Yefim Bronfman and Music Director, Maestro Jahja Ling. (Beethoven's Eighth Symphony and the "Emperor" piano concerto.) My first time to this Hall and it didn't disappoint. It was actually more than I had anticipated. As a frequent visitor to the SD Civic Center for Broadway shows and musicals, I was expecting this hall to be run down and just as old looking/feeling. I was definitely impressed with its elegance, glam and classiness!!! Our tickets were awesome - Row A in the Grand section. Here you're able to see and hear the orchestra vibrantly! But, really, there's not a bad seat in the house. Although surrounded by an OLDER generation, it was still an enjoyment to have one liner conversations with the elderly couple sitting next to you. Following the concert, we were invited to a special toasting event in the Revelle Room to honor both the Maestro and renowned pianist. We were given the red carpet treatment with champagne, wine, coffee, beverages, and small treats. BRAVO, I say, BRAVO!!! Note: Parking was $10 during this event, and the parking garage was odd. You drive about several flights before you actually hit parking. I think they share the garage with the Sheraton. It is almost as confusing as Horton! read more

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This concert hall is exceptional. I have never been here until this last friday's concert, but apparently there has been significant improvement since "last season." The main lobby where the refreshments are served has been renovated and given a stylish facelift. Everything is bright, and crisp when it comes to appearance. Additionally, within the hall itself, re-carpeting, and lighting changes have also been made.. The only complaint I have about these hall is how uncomfortable the seats are. I was doing my absolute best to enjoy the musical stylings of Augustin Hadelich's, (who is an amazingly talented violin prodigy) but I kept squirming in my seat. There isn't much back support and I felt like I was sitting in like, a little box. I do hope they look into updating the seats for the betterment of the audience that they cater to. Overall, if you are looking for a great experience for a ballet or musical composition, I suggest looking no further than Copley Symphony hall. read more

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Such and awesome place with lots of history since 1929. Atmosphere: I recently came here during comic-con 2015 Saturday night for the Zelda: Symphony of Goddesses Master Quest. Lots of fans dressed in cosplay form of their favorite Zelda characters along with others wearing their Zelda tees. This has yet been the best Symphony I've seen by far. Very nostalgic in music which brought so much memories from my childhood. Seats: We sat on the main floor row "O" aisle seats. No complaints great view of the whole stage. Usher's were very polite and helpful directing you to your seat. Snacks/ Drinks: Specialty drinks were made and along with premium and beer offered. Coffee and other soda beverages were available. Along with cookies and candy bars for purchase. They are also allowed in the symphony room. Pricy but glad they have options if you decide you are hungry/ thirsty. Parking: valet = $25 parking lot across the street = $20 garage = $20 Overall: With special events and other concerts here, it can feel a bit claustrophobic with a small main hall. But the venue of Copley is great with at least 2200 seats and a very visible stage. Will definelty come back during another concert favorite. read more

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Beautiful hall. Came here to listen to an Italian pianist - Ludovico Einaudi. Was moved to tears in a few minutes. They serve beverages and snacks but you're not suppose to take it into the auditorium. read more

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I attended the TEDXTalks event here on 10/22/16. In my opinion, this is a great venue for events. The TedX conference was simply amazing. You can see the stage at both the floor and balcony level. The quality of the sound system and beautiful interior of the auditorium were impressive. They have wonderful and courteous usher staff. Hopefully next time i can come visit this venue when the San Diego Symphony or guests are performing. If you come here to watch a show , you can find parking in the Wells Fargo Plaza Parking Garage. 401 B St. read more

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I love the Copley symphony hall. The venue has very good acoustics and is not very big, so all seats overall are good. I have been here multiple times for Holiday concerts, movie and concert shows and for regular concerts. They have s wonderful student discount $10 with student is, but you must buy tickets in the box office, it can be purchased ahead of time or at the time of the show. Cheapest place I have found for parking is 2 blocks away on A street, between 5th and 6th streets which is $8 flat rate (as of May 2019). read more

Copley Symphony Hall - Taiko drums - Music Venues Near Me - San Diego, California

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We attended the American Idol tour here and its beautiful. We sat up in the balcony, I had no problem seeing the stage but its a little tough for kids. I would recommend the front section if you sit in the balcony area. The staff is the main reason for 5 stars. They were extremely helpful, providing ear plugs for my kids and also booster seats. read more

Copley Symphony Hall - view from 2nd section of the balcony. - Music Venues Near Me - San Diego, California

Back in my high school days, I played trombone in our band (yes, that's right - I was a band geek). In my sophomore year, I qualified to take part in a concert performance at Copley Symphony Hall - it was one of the highlights of my high school career. I went here over the weekend to see John Williams conduct the San Diego Symphony. While I was struck at how small the stage appeared, the decor and environs was more than enough to catch my eye. Very elegant performance hall, and the video screens on the sides of the stage were not distracting whatsoever. Plus, while I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to see the performers due to my seat arrangement, it doesn't appear that there was a bad seat in the house. The lobby also was quite beautiful - I loved the mural near the front, and since it's the holiday season, there was a rather gorgeous musically-themed Christmas tree that was a prime location for pictures. As for the concert itself - watching maestro Williams conduct our city's symphony (and guest cellist) through his works was an amazing experience I will never forget. I have to admit, tears came to my eyes during the first encore, when the Raiders March started to play - and during the second encore, when the Star Wars Main Theme went up. While parking can be a pain (I parked a few blocks away, saving me some cash), and the concessions are overpriced ($6 for a chocolate chip cookie and bottle of water - which you could bring inside the hall)... attending a symphony performance to get your art and culture fix is an experience that should be taken advantage of! read more

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I am here to see Carol Burnett. It was a wonderful evening of Q&A with the audience and she showed short clips of her shows. The reason I am posting is because I expected Copley Symphony Hall to be experts are helping audiences arrive to show. My expectations were too high. Yes we did get in but oh boy was it stressful to this sold out crowd of mostly retirees. Holy cow! 15 mintues to show time the lobby was an absolute HOT MESS. I have never seen a throng of people snake back in such a poorly planned manner inside such a presticious venue. It was like the chaos that ensues outside rock concert. I got to my seat at 739pm. The show was scheduled to start at 730pm. Thankfully I reached my seat JUST one minute before Carol Burnett took the stage. What happened? Why were people in wheelchairs, walkers and visually impaired guests being herded in like cattle? Did EVERYONE arrive 15 mintues before show time or did some big decision maker say "let's keep them waiting as long as possible."? My goodness. read more

Nothing to complain about this magnificient symphony hall. Great architecture, fantastic acoustics, no bad seats (well, i was in a privileged seat on the six row, just in front but not hyper close to the action point) and what not to like when you have dear ex-colleagues that offer you $100 tickets for free to go to enjoy the Jon Kimura Parker concert? 2 hours of pleasure. Feeling like in a geriatric, as others complain? Well, it seems that older folks have better taste. Classical music is always nice no matter the public. Besides, we will all get there and better with the ability to be able to enjoy music and dress up (and do your hair) for the occasion. There were many young people as well, although is true that majority of the audience is in the 65+ age range. Being in a builing that saw the light for the first time in 1929 is already a very nice thing to experience, at least in San Diego where you don't get that many historic buildings as you can get anywhere in Europe. So just for the experience of being inside and breath some San Diego history is already worth it. I am a carpet maniac, I think the carpet of most public places (especially hospitals) are horrible, unattractive, unwelcoming. Not the case here. Check the pics and judge for yourself. And check the floors more often! No need to walk with your nose up, no matter if this is a symphone hall, after all is chill San Diego! read more

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Saw the amazing Carol Burnett tonight. The show itself was just wonderful. I felt like we were friends i her living room and she was telling stories of her show days. But that's not why I chose to review here. I have to give KUDOS to the ushers that worked there tonight. I have never been to a venue before where the ushers were so good at what they do. This show was a meet and greet type- Ms Burnett took questions from the audience. These ushers were running up and down the stairs with mics. As you can imagine, a lot of the crowd tonight were experienced lifers...the ushers were helping people up and down the steps and aisles...AND if it was dark, they rushed to your side with flashlights to light your path. They were so attentive and worked so hard. I was very impressed. Thank you for making my once in a lifetime show such a great experience. read more

An absolutely beautiful venue for a ballet or symphony performance. The theatre has all the character and warmth you hope for when enjoying these performances, and the ushers are always so kind and helpful. The building itself has become outdated, so it is good to see some renovation work in progress on our most recent visit (Dec 2019). I hope you plan a trip to see a show here soon! read more

I'm not giving this place 5 stars because it costs $20 to park in the parking garage but you still have to walk a distance and take 2 sets of elevators from the garage to get to the symphony hall. This hall is very nice and it is located in a building known for glitz and glamor. The elevators have the latest technology where you push a button on a screen and it will tell you which elevator to take. I was amazed when I first came here because I had never seen anything like it! However, I think it would be a little bit confusing for the older patrons because some of them were confused as to how to use it after our concert the other day. Anyway, this is a beautiful symphony hall and the acoustics are great. I highly recommend you swing by to hear the San Diego Symphony play! read more

Last weekend was a beautiful ceremony for the Jefferson University graduates. I greatly appreciated the fact that the ushers were strict and asked people with small children who started to cry to go into the lobby. This place is a beautiful venue with large paintings in the actual hall. There is convenient parking within walking distance.. Despite it getting really hot in the lobby (we were packed like sardines) once the doors opened we all got to chairs and got to cheer the graduating class of 2010 :-) read more

What a beautiful venue for an intimate concert with your favorite musical artist! We saw the incredible Harry Connick Jr. here recently and he put on a show to remember. He entertained us not only with his vocal and instrumental talents, but also took great share in showcasing his equally incredible band. Blew my mind! The ushers are extremely kind and helpful although one was a bit overzealous when I was simply turning off my phone...she took great pleasure in shining her flashlight in my face and hissed at me "NO PHOTOS!" to which I hissed back, "Um, may I turn OFF my phone? Thanks." Calm yourself Usher Nazi. The seating is quite comfortable and roomy. No matter where you sit, you get a great view of the show. Wonderful acoustics showcased the concert nicely and you couldn't help but toe tap and sing along to Harry and his band's catchy tunes. Overpriced drinks and beverage but that's nothing new, so eat post or prior to your event. There are a few lots surrounding the venue so parking is decent, but not the best, which goes hand in hand with downtown. Definitely a happy camper. 4 stars! read more

They really need to make some improvements here across the board. Mind you i have been spoiled living in Europe where I attended the London Philharmonic for 12 years, and the one in Paris on and off, but be this as it may, San Diego needs to step it up at the Copley. So last night I went to hear the Symphony perform Bolero, and to hear Kathleen Battle (my favorite soprano) and Jean-Yves Thibaudet (my favorite pianist). This has been my third time hearing the symphony in San Diego, and I noticed that the sound quality and the acoustics are terrible. When the symphony ended with Bolero, nobody could hear the music for the first 10 seconds. I mean, people were even mumbling to each other about it, so it wasn't just me who was having this issue. Then when the music became hearable, the oboe was rigid and stiff and the horn made an error. However, the piece finished beautifully and powerfully. The bar is cash only, and only stays open before the performance starts. There was no intermission in this performance. This caused old people to get up from their seats constantly, as their bladder control is not as reliable as those of the young. This caused disruption in the performance, which was annoying. They also don't let you take photos. Now I understand that one shouldn't take flash photos, as it would disrupt others, but before the concert started i took a photo with my phone, flash turned off, and an usher barked at me. In London you can take all the photos you want to. This is just a silly, stupid rule. The bathrooms are also small and cramped and they smelled like they had not been cleaned. The positives? The seats are comfortable and offer good leg room. The decor is nice...just nice. They clearly tried to copy the symphony halls of Europe, but that is not a problem. I guess I am just used to the London Philharmonic where they have intermissions, a lovely open bar with a cafe, large spacious bathrooms that are clean, and friendly ushers. But more importantly, a concert hall that provides amazing sound quality. Even the concert hall in Madison, WI offers better sound. read more

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Been here many times for shows. It's a beautiful venue and a great place if you're going to a chill seated show. However, I recently had a front row ticket for a Morrissey concert and it was one of the worst experiences at a show I've ever had. First of all, the process to get into the venue was a nightmare with a line of people snaking through the lobby and moving everyone into the hall very slowly. Then the ushers--granted, they are all very nice volunteers--didn't seem to know where to direct me correctly to my front row seat. I had to go through multiple doors to find the correct side of the stage I was supposed to be on because I was told many different directions from the ushers. Once inside, the hired security staff working the show were a bunch of See You Next Tuesdays and should be ashamed of themselves. They straight up ruined the entire experience being there. First of all, they made the amateur mistake of letting random people up to the front of the stage during the opening act. They didn't seem to care that the people there didn't have front row tickets. Fortunately, I was able to squeeze into a spot at the stage because one of my friends was already there (and yes, she also had a front row ticket). Once the opening act was finished, the hired security working the venue decided to use intimidation, yelling, shining flashlights and making physical threats to me and the other people around me saying if we didn't go back to our seats the performer would not come on. I showed them my first row ticket and they kept yelling threats and started to push me with their bodies. Thankfully, my friend next to me said don't worry, stay here, you paid for this seat. It was just terrible. They finally gave up when Morrissey's security staff told the venue security to cut it out and that he enjoys having his fans up close. Of course, once the show started, they couldn't keep people in their seats and the crowd just pushed past them. It was just a mess and a riot and handled in such a terrible way. read more

Went here for the sneak preview of what's to come in the next season. The symphony was great as always as was the conductor. This was the first time I had seen a Concert Speaker to tell a story during a performance. That was interesting. If you do get up to go to the restrooms during the performance you will not be allowed back in until the current piece is finished, so be prepared for that. Also the drinks at the bars are rather pricey [as expected], so expect the drinks to be $2-3 more than most places close by. read more

Copley Symphony Hall - Music Venues Near Me - San Diego, California

I am getting old so most concerts I attend are with other older folks. However, instead of seeing the Symphony here, I was here for the PET SHOP BOYS concert. This was my first time here so I didn't know what to expect. The hall was here before the building so I guess they built the whole building on top of it. Symphony towers is modern while Copley Symphony Hall is obviously older. I like smaller venues for concerts nowadays because I avoid heavy traffic and volumes of people leaving after a concert. Pluses, food and drink available (minimal). Cons - expensive. Acoustically, I can't judge this place based on the PSB concert since their music is electronic and danceable as opposed to the Symphony Orchestra. Parking across the street is reasonable at $10 for the night. Old fogey over here is tallying costs. Pricing for the tickets were still stiff over $100 for two (bec of all the surcharges and fees). Parking, food. I think this was almost as expensive as eating dinner at one of those fancy restaurants like Bertand's at Mister A's or Mille Fleurs. Overall, cost withstanding, I enjoyed myself and after 2 encores left the hall still dancing in my mind. ...PSB...you are always on my mind... read more

Lovely symphony hall. The sound resonates nicely throughout the room. Parking can be difficult. There are two outdoor parking lots that fill up rather quickly. You can park in parking structure nextdoor. The hotel and symphony shares the structure. We stayed for several hours and the cost of parking came out to be $10. read more

Copley Symphony Hall - Holiday performance. - Music Venues Near Me - San Diego, California

So I probably should have come here way sooner but a Harry Potter concert finally hooked me. My HP club and I bought group tickets for a great deal. The lobby was fancy but once you actually enter the hall it is gorgeous! Everything inside is beautiful and classy, it makes you feel fancy and as if you are in another world. We had seats at the top/back and the view was still good. The sound quality is fantastic and the musicians are crazy talented. The employees were helpful and the themed drinks were tasty. I appreciate the music even more now and plan to attend other events here. read more

Bryan Ferry entertained us here on Tuesday evening, 8.27! "Dance away the heartache, dance away the tears...dance away the fear..." Best of both worlds, a long time glamorous artist along with a gorgeous venue to suit! It was our first visit here and wow, beautiful architecture and acoustics! The night was complete and harmonious! Do not recommend the drinks though, can use a major improvement! My drink was one of their signature offerings @ $15, delivered in a 6oz. cup half full, and being the light-weight I am, it did nothing to start-off the journey! Look forward to another experience here someday! read more

Beautiful. just simply beautiful! We got complimentary tickets to check out their 2017-2018 Symphony line up. They played about 15 pieces just to share what is upcoming and wow...such talent. It was the perfect date night to sit back, relax, listen to live music and just watch in amazement the talent these musicians have. There was one song that was all strings that I absolutely fell in love with and the lead was an older woman. I looked at my partner and said "I want to be her when I get that age." Though we were up in the balcony, it was great to be able to look down and see all the details on stage. I prefer to be in the top areas any way because there isn't much visually blockers (heads). read more

The old regal style of the inside of Copley isn't something you'd expect from seeing the larger modern style tower outside. Most recently we came during Comic-Con for the San Diego Symphony's performance of the best of John Williams movie music and it was a beautiful experience. Sitting in the H row of the Mezzanine we had a decent view and could hear everything just fine. And not a bad price for a night at the symphony either. We chose to ride share in instead of deal with downtown traffic and paying for parking here, which was the more preferable choice to us, but on a non Comic-con night it probably wouldn't be that bad. read more

Copley Symphony Hall - Regal - Music Venues Near Me - San Diego, California

First symphony out here in SD and I looooooved it. Last time I went to one was back home in NYC and I fell asleep. Lol not this time not only was the music great and watching the musicians pour their hearts into their work but the drinks there are pretty good to. Check it out sometime. read more

Copley Symphony Hall - Awesome show - Music Venues Near Me - San Diego, California

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The one star is for the organization of the staff. It was chaotic. One usher directed me to the wrong door!! Which lead me to be held for 3 minutes outside the venue. Which is frustrating. Let's not talk about the merchandise booth! It felt like a communist bread line! It was short of people shoving each other to purchase a souvenir. The venue is beautiful , the symphony sounded wonderful. But my of my the staff needs training to be more organized! The venue needs to recognize that their staff is their first line of defense. When there is an onslaught of patrons coming in and trust me it leaves an impression on you. I will never return to this venue ever again. Oh by the way we travelled 4 hours to be there read more

Maybe 3.5.....symphony venue is comfortable, ornate and equipped with good acoustics. Really no "bad seats" in there; all offer a clear view with the elevation. Bathrooms are clean and plentiful. Food choices are lacking. They only have candy (sweet options) and maybe a bag or chips available. read more

Copley Symphony Hall - Jazz concert with Chick Corea - Music Venues Near Me - San Diego, California

You have to have antifreeze running through your veins to give Copley Symphony Hall anything less than a stellar rating. What's not to love? Copley Hall is magnificent. It's a San Diego landmark, albeit a hidden one. You wouldn't expect a modern office tower to be home to a classic theater, but it is. The architects did a fantastic job building the office tower *around* the existing structure, leading to a fascinating juxtaposition of the old and new. The theater itself is splendid, with generous and comfortable seats, excellent acoustics, vaguely Baroque-ish details throughout the interior, and a spectacularly ornate ceiling. There isn't a bad seat in the house. The theater is large enough to feel grand but intimate enough to make binoculars unnecessary. Location's perfect too. It's far enough away from the Gaslamp craziness to make finding street parking a breeze, but close enough for a quick stroll for snacks and drinks before or after the show. One last thing -- no doubt many of you think that symphony performances are exclusively for the geriatric set, but you have to try it before you knock it. Not convinced? Would your mind change if I told you that, one hour before showtime, the Copley box office sells rush tickets for $10? Yes, TEN DOLLARS. That's less than the price of a freakin' MOVIE TICKET, people. For $10, you can listen to gorgeous LIVE music in a stunning setting for 2 hours. There's also usually a free pre-show lecture for those of you curious about the history/details of the pieces being performed that night. Is some of your skepticism melting away yet? I hope so. read more

Copley Symphony Hall - Music Venues Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is a really beautiful place and I have to say, it struck my fancy! It was really awesome and the acoustics were great, there are a lot of stuck up older folks but they are just jealous of me, and myself getting all cultured and stuff. Listen I just got to say If you get a chance go out of your way to catch something here, as long as it isn't a disease, it will be well worth it. read more

"I am convinced that the future music of this country must be founded on what are called Negro melodies." - Antonin Dvorak The famous 19th century Czech composer Dvorak was not thinking about 50 Cent or Jay-Z when he made that statement in 1892 after first coming to America. However, he was certainly on to something because his 9th symphony (which was influenced by spiritual melodies and Native American music) has been astounding both times our hero has heard it performed by the San Diego Symphony at Copley Hall. Also, hearing the works of other composers such as Elgar, Handel, Herold, Hue, and Mozart performed live here at Copley has certainly broadened our hero's appreciation for classical music. Music without lyrics, but with powerful emotion is something that every San Diegan ought to enjoy at Copley Hall. The modern high rise architecture outside stands at a dichotomy to the classic styling and music heard within. Their shows are a nice way to relax and take in music as it was meant to be heard: LIVE! The next time our hero is driving through downtown blasting Negro melodies from his car, it might not be the Black Eyed Peas, but Dvorak's allegro con fuoco movement instead. PROS: - Tickets to shows are definitely affordable at $20 and up, with $10 "last minute" tickets for university students. - A very spacious $10 parking lot is right across the street. - The volunteer ushers are very courteous and helpful. CONS: - No food or drink allowed in the theatre. Sparse drinks available during intermissions. - The projection screen at the top of the main stage blocks partially blocks the view of some of the top floor seats and is rather dark. - The sound on the A, B, and C ticket blocks on the main floor is kind of shoddy and the view sucks. Copley was seriously designed to be heard on the mezzanine and grand tier seats by a long stretch. read more

Pretty schnazy I might add... do wear your "Sunday clothes" or funeral attire ;) for this place ;).. Get your "fancy on".....round up a tuxedo or evening gown if a Gala... Do pass on the flip flops....and jeans... Prepare to be amazed at whatever show is playing... There are bars located throughout the establishment in the masquerading lobby... Marble covered bathrooms......Wonderful volunteers... very friendly love the music.. bring a tissue, the sound is so moving you may trickle a tear at the beauty of the melody..... get in touch with your artistic self... Parking is possible with meters.. free after 6pm... there are also many pay lots in the nearby vicinity.. . read more

I forget how much I f*cking love this place. I need to see more acoustic shows here. I saw Eddie Vedder here and I know he is an amazing to see live anyway, but of the times I have seen Pearl Jam (3) and Eddie solo (3); this was high up there. If you are going to blow 100 bucks to see a show it might as well be a classy joint with amazing sound. You really cannot go wrong with any of the seats. And parking is relatively easy. You can booze here, but the lines are long, so be patient or get there early. Apparently symphonies are in a different league and do not allow alcohol. The ushers are a little stickler, and have you put your camera phone if they see you trying to record, but they didnt kick anyone out. Who they did kick out was a guy who had sparklers. but the ushers did take their time kicking him out so we could all point and laugh at him. I have been here before to see a symphony or two and always end op sitting back and start nodding off. But that is probably because my brain is so busy absorbing all the music and there is little energy for anything else. If there ever is a show here that you are mildly interested in GO, RUN! as it will be amazing! Next up, Tosh! read more

Love this venue! I have ben here for 2 shows now, sat in the lower level for one performance and on the 2nd floor for another performance, and both views were amazing and the acoustics in the room allow you to hear great sounds from the stage. Both shows of the SD Symphony included guests, the first was Ben Folds, who will fabulous and composed his own piece that they played, and the second brought a tap dancer on stage named Cartier Williams, who danced incredibly along with the orchestra! I don't even think he broke a sweat! The musicality and musicianship of the SD Symphony is incredible and this venue really allows for them to highlight the sounds. The venue holds a lot of people and offers comfy seating for any show. The architecture and feel of the place has been upgraded and yet still keeps that classic music hall vibe and ambiance. Aside from parking, which can be very challenging as others have mentioned, the downtown location makes it great for grabbing a bite to eat before the show or a drink after the show. Just be sure to leave time to walk to the venue or grab an Uber/Lyft to be dropped of at the end of the red carpet. read more

On her 1994 CD, technically gifted violinist Sarah Chang plays Paganini's first concerto with such youthful verve that her recording with Sawallisch can convert even non-classical music listening peeps into fans. I introduced the disc to my college roommate, and I swear he played that thing repeatedly every day for a whole quarter. A prodigy, she was all but 14 at the time of the release. We caught a concert of Chang's when she visited Copley Hall earlier this year. The Eddie Van Halen of his time, Paganini's compositions were intended to showcase matchless prowess with instrument rather than composer's pen. Thus, the program Chang selected (Prokofiev's second sonata, the "world premiere" of Richard Danielpour's ode to Isaac Stern, Beethoven's Kreutzer sonata, with Vivaldi encore) indicated how Chang had really matured since the Paganini recording, choosing pieces to demonstrate substance as well as flash. I mean, holy shit, talk about an ambitious program. Chang attacked like a bulldog, chomping on each piece as if each were a fresh bone, gnawing to the marrow and squeezing out every juicy turn while distractingly stomping out each nuance with clompy shoes. While this approach added considerable excitement to the more cerebral works of Prokofiev and Danielpour, I felt the Kreutzer could have used a bit more of the relaxed gusto she didn't display until the encore. Kreutzer is one of my favorite violin pieces, even writing a musicology paper on it back when. It's trademark yearning-for-equilibrium Ludwig Van: a clash of piano and violin in the first movement, equal bits introspection and playfulness in the lyrical second. This wasn't the first time I had been to Copley, having taken in a concert or two as a child, but I had not remembered the peculiar layout of the venue: balcony seating at street level, orchestra seating downstairs underground. Not so grand, but it's all good if the orchestral venue is alive and kicking (given that it was at death's door years ago), and that SD apparently warrants a stop on a big name act's tour. read more

Good place to enjoy some culture, but definitely an OLDER crowd. I went with the boyfriend for the symphony's performance of Chopin and Sibelius. We got the student rush tickets for $10 and sat like 7th row! Ahhh I love great deals. The theater itself is pretty nice with old style decorations. read more

Gorgeous venue! Seats are comfy, and acoustics are pretty good. Bathrooms are nice too. I went to a concert that wasn't so enjoyable but that's not the venue's fault! 5 stars! read more

Yes, I like going to the symphony. No, I'm not 75 years old. I have grown up with an appreciation of all forms of music, especially classical music and am always excited to attend a good performance at Copley. The crowd here is mixed, there are some classic snooty types but generally speaking, everyone here is friendly and amiable. I'm happy to see that a lot of us younger (20s-30s) folks have found an appreciation for the classics. If you're into classical music, I encourage you to check out a performance here. They have a pretty good schedule with a lot of different composers so you'll find something you like. The prices are also very reasonable, ranging from 20 dollars to 70 or 80ish. read more