I have been to the DSO for a few shows now that I'm spending more time in Detroit. Each time has been amazing. In addition to the beautiful venue, the acoustics are great and service is top notch. I'm looking forward to many more events here! read more

Detroit Symphony Orchestra - So beautiful! - Performing Arts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

By now I've seen Leslie Odom Jr, Phantom of the Opera, Batman 1989, Terence Blanchard. I've never had their food before but have had a water. Service is always kind. Ambiance is come all and enjoy art! Very clean as well! read more

See all

Very lovely symphony! Grew up playing cello so getting to see orchestras live is so special to me. This was my first visit to the DSO and they were wonderful. Came for The Planets Suite and the group was magnificent. Lobby and theater are gorgeous but one big con is the seat. I am only 5'5 and felt incredibly crammed and antsy sitting through the performance. But I do love the historic feel of the theater so it is a small price to pay! read more

Detroit Symphony Orchestra - The Planets - Performing Arts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Beethoven and Mozart live performance is phenomenal . Especially with the open buffet and wet bar in the lobby is stunning read more

Detroit Symphony Orchestra - Beethoven and Mozart live performance is phenomenal - Performing Arts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Gorgeous concert hall! Fabulous acoustics. Fantastic musicians! I saw Mahler's 5th symphony there tonight and it was a beautiful experience. Very affordable tickets. Everyone should experience the DSO at least once. I loved it! read more

See all

Love how the DSO is bringing music it to the streets of the city. I caught them at Campus Martius with their melody of movie scores. Last night they hosted an international group for the Colors Festival. The music hall is across from Whole Foods, and UM midtown campus with adjacent garage parking. read more

See all

Great show by the Under the street lamp with member of the Jersey Boys together with the DSO read more

See all

I went in today to go to the DSO to check out a show for my parents upcoming celebration and was pleasantly greeted by the box office attendant named Joe Sabatella. He is absolutely fabulous at his job not only did he give us a great recommendation for seating for the show for our special celebration, but he also gave us detailed information about their NEX GEN program, which turned out to be exactly what I was looking for that didn't know existed. This is a program where for $40 you get a subscription with access to all the DSO programs and you can go to any show at the DSO or any one of their productions for $10 per ticket per person. There is a limit on the amount of tickets that you can buy but I usually only need 2 tickets total so this is perfect for me. This is a great option for lovers of all music genres and styles. The shows play at the downtown DSO as well as several venues located in local neighborhoods. I am more than satisfied with the trip to the box office today and very happy for all of the information and help. It's wonderful that now I pretty much have the rest of my season of music planned out. Thanks again for all of the assistance, courtesy and professionalism, Joe Sabatella. read more

See all

Detroit Symphony Orchestra is a must visit place. I have been here for a beautiful wedding and also shows. The overall staff are very pleasant. read more

How lucky we are to have such an incredible institution here in Detroit? So so lucky! Unfortunately during this time of shelter in place live performances have been postponed but you can enjoy past performances in the comfort of your own home with free access to their DSO Replay that you can find at dso.org/replay. I also highly recommend following them on social to enjoy porch concerts from DSO performers and other talented musicians that they share regularly. It's a balm to the soul during this difficult time. I look forward to taking in more performances and supporting their season once we reopen. We must keep these vital arts institutions afloat. It is the arts that we turn to in difficult times and we need them more now than ever. read more

The orchestra is great, but pay for better seats. I attended a show seated in the upper balcony not knowing how poorly designed this space is. Do not buy these seats if you are tall as there is absolutely minimal legroom. I'm 6'2" and my experience in these seats was painful. The physical problems became psychological too as I started to feel claustrophobic. Honestly, I could barely wait for the event to end. Will never sit up there again. If you are a large human, be warned. read more

You will not be disappointed if you attend a performance at the DSO. The musicians here are extremely talented and put on a wonderful show. On our visit we had the opportunity to to hear two world premier pieces. The first piece was by a world famous composer and the second was by an new young emerging composer. The violin soloist who performed in the second piece was globally famous and was absolutely mesmerizing. It was amazing to hear their stories and see both composers on the stage, so proud to premier their music. The main performance during our visit was Tchaikovsky's Symphony #6, his last before his death. It was performed beautifully and the intensity of the pieces made the time fly by. The Max itself is beautiful and a lovely sight to see. The seating was comfortable and even mid balcony we could see well. Of course I wouldn't mind box seats some time! Prior to the show their is a bar to grab a cocktail downstairs if you'd like. And the best thing is that they have their own parking deck, $7 self park $12 valet and it was an easy in/out process. read more

Great orchestra And facility Very entertaining and educational Great music director and soloists read more

Great music and variety. Look for special performances like Tribute to Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin presentation and Black Panther.

I first saw the DSO perform when I was 11 years-old and their performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1 in Bb minor was an absolute revelation to me, and to this very day, it remains my favorite piece in the entire canon of classical music.  I went in thinking that I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not because at that point in my life, I was preoccupied with Rock, R&B, and Jazz, from the likes of the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Queen, Al Green, Sam Cooke, and the incredible John Coltrane.  So as everyone shuffled about in their seats awaiting the opening of the show, I sat in wild wonder with a strange sense of anticipation. The DSO tuned up as usual, and then the pregnant pause, which seemed like ten minutes to me at the time, but really it was just a few moments before they exploded into the opening bars of this all-time classic. That moment changed me. I was immediately drawn forward to the knife's edge of my seat and I was transfixed for the entirety of the 36+ minutes of this beloved concerto. I have seen the DSO perform this piece three times in my life, and each time I had goosebumps and the same sensation of awe overtook me.  We Detroiters are exceedingly fortunate to have such a world-class symphonic orchestra performing their sublime music for our edification and supreme enjoyment.  The building itself is an architectural landmark, originally built in 1919, and nearly falling victim to disrepair and demolition, but thankfully the city of Detroit had the incredible foresight to preserve this gem for generations. And here we are today, 100 years later and we're still enjoying the captivating rapture that these wonderful musicians create. I try to make as many performances as I can each season, and there are certain pieces that I refuse to miss, if at all possible.  I am extremely grateful to the city of Detroit, the original architect, C. Howard Crane, the original conductor, Ossip Gabrilowitsch, who was the initial driving force behind this architectural gem, and the supreme legacy of this magical theater. It has brought a tremendous enrichment  to my life, and everyone I bring with me always enjoys the majestic atmosphere and the transcendental music. For those who have never been to the theater or seen a show inside of its glorious walls of brick and limestone, please do yourself the favor of experiencing this divine delight. read more

I've been to the DSO 3 times now I think and each time has honestly been great! Part of the reason this place is fantastic is that it doesnt just do orchestra but a mix of other cultural events such as modern plays, operas and really cool new age takes on the orchestra. Most recently I came here for an event called Mysterium which was a really interesting event. It was an attempt to affect the 5 senses to make an interesting new experience. The first room wanted to evoke the feelings of a morning in Buenos Aires, Argentina and did so by handing out chips/guac, sangria, playing a Spanish duet, and having us watch an incredible pair of nationally ranked argentinians tango dancers. The second room was all about comparing the primitive sounds to modern sounds and they did that by playing the drums/conch shells vs the more modern vibriphones. In the final room we got to go on stage and they reversed the placement of the orchestra and they played from the audience area. A really cool switch from the typical view. Each exhibition made you think and got you more involved. Before that I was also at a really good rendition of Symphonie Fantastique and before that the Skeleton Crew, a 2008 Detroit centric play. Overall it's a really nice orchestra that has a pretty solid offering of music and most are excellent. Plus if you're younger there are usually pretty extensive discounts! And if that's not the case it still isnt expensive at all. read more

See all

What fun! DSO did a tribute to vinyl. First it was my first visit to the venue. My experience with the DSO has been at Meadowbrook and Greenfield village, so seeing them in their home was new for me. The venue is beautiful, offering shopping, food and drink. Love the way its laid out, so you are never overcrowded and during intermission you can find a quiet spot to chill if you wish. The only thing I noticed was the lines for libations during intermission. One woman bartending for a pretty long line. Btw, she killed it! The show was wonderful, playful and sentimental. Great song choices, humor, and audience interaction. We planned this at the last minute and throughly enjoyed it. read more

Always an amazing auditory experience. It is so amazing to have this theatre in the Detroit area. It is well maintained, beautifully decorated and staffed well. read more

Went here with my mom last weekend to see the DSO. Lower level parking fills up quick, so get there early if you are looking for ground floor. Love the feeling of this hostorical building. I love the "escape" feeling I get listening to the talented musicians. I do wish the lines at the bathroom weren't so long! read more

Detroit Symphony Orchestra - Performing Arts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

We are season ticket holders at the DSO for the Pops series. To us, there's nothing better than heading downtown to watch some of the premier musicians in our area play for a couple of hours a couple of times per month. We definitely attend concerts as often as possible during the winter months, because sometimes it's just hard to get there during the spring and summer. Over the years, we've interacted with a lot of people who work there: from ushers, to concessions, to ticket reps on the phone. Never once have we ever had a negative experience. The DSO is top notch in the music that they play, and in the experience they give to their patrons. We love the DSO! read more

I was there for the Black Panther Concert, very excited because it was my first time there and I've always wanted to go. At this even i made a couple f purchases as they had a bar and had a place to purchase snacks. I only purchased a few snacks and few drinks equaling out to about $46.00 as of today they charged me an extra $90 and I've never authorized that charge. Its like they took the tip i did give and got a extra $90.00 from me. Don't buy snacks from DSO! read more

They do a wonderful job for all age groups. There is a tots program, a young adult, and a full adult offering. They also bring in a number of special guests to perform from time to time. Supporting the local arts, especially with this intimate setting is a great thing. read more

My husband and I have visited the DSO several times in the past couple years and are always blown away by the performances and atmosphere. The staff are welcoming and kind. The bartenders are friendly and professional. The ushers are quick to point out your seats and will even offer to walk you there. The space is warm, historic and breathtaking. They offer free Wifi so you can share photos and videos you've taken of the performance (during intermission, please!). You'll have an incredible night out considering tickets to most events start around $15. If you live in Michigan, it really is your civic duty to visit the DSO. They're world-class musicians housed in a beautiful, historic orchestra hall and it's ridiculously affordable to attend any of their shows. read more

Incredible performances from a truly underrated orchestra. I can't recommend enough people to go and experience a true cacophony of musical talent. You won't regret an evening spent with the DSO. read more

Such a beautiful space! The tickets are very inexpensive, I usually buy at the ticket counter to avoid the extra fees when buying online. Customer service is awesome! From the ticket counter to the checking of the tickets, everyone is always super nice and gracious. read more

Detroit Symphony Orchestra - Performing Arts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

DSO is wonderful, but the Rolling Stones tribute was horrible. It was a bad cover band backed by a disinterested orchestra. We walk out at the intermission. Would have been much better without the vocalist. read more

I can't stand it!!! This is soooo great!!! "The Music of Pink Floyd" accompanied by the full Detroit Symphony Orchestra! Soooo moving!!! I go to "Mix at the Max" #DSOMix as often as I can, but this is only my second time inside orchestra hall with the full orchestra. Fantastic! Last week I was here with Terence Blanchard's performance as part of "A Musical Tale of Two Cities: Motown Meets the Big Easy". That was unbelievable too ... his jazz group accompanied by the DSO playing the soundtrack to Spike Lee's documentary about Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans. Spell-binding! I haven't been a huge fan of straight-up orchestra, but these #DSOMix and special orchestra events have me reconsidering my musical preferences. Thanks DSO! read more

Detroit Symphony Orchestra - The Music of Pink Floyd with the DSO - Performing Arts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Went to see DSO for the first time with a friend on their Cirque night. I thought with getting seats in the upper balcony, we'd be missing out on a lot, but it was surprising how good of a vantage point we had. The performances of both the musicians and the Cirque folks were phenomenal. Great musical choices, really fun and engaging acts. I had an absolute blast, and am already putting the 80s mix tape on my calendar for this spring. read more

Detroit Symphony Orchestra - Performing Arts Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

See all

It was a great night watching and listening to "Broadway to Hollywood" with beautiful music and great voices. Great seats, great atmosphere and will return again. Always do! read more

Shame on DSO for continuing to bill my mother for an annual subscription after being notified she died. Having removed all credit card info from her online account, DSO billed her credit card not once but two times!!! Even with multiple efforts by me to contact the DSO via phone, US Mail and email they are absolutely non-responsive and non-cooperative in resolving this matter. Always supported the DSO but this is unconscionable. read more

Excellent evening enjoying Romeo and Juliet. The orchestra is so talented and Orchestra Hall is a fantastic venue. Parking isn't bad so long as you don't mind a little walk. read more

Aaron K psyched me up for what I imagined the worst night $11 could buy. As Rebecca M mentioned, there is a 37/11 club -- if you are under 37 with proof of ID, you can buy $11 tickets. I got $125 seats for $11. They were damn good seats too. I went to the Baroque Spectacular, and I was honestly prepared for the worst. They would butcher my beloved Two Violin Concerto in D. I would want to scream during the Canon in D. But it just wasn't so! It was actually really quite lovely! Alas, I only had one mini mental breakdown. You see, I didn't realize I bought tickets to a music "unmasked" show. Where they STOP the performance after a few movements to talk about it. Holy shit, my head almost exploded. I was freaking out, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOOOING?! YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PIECE! AHHHHHHHHHHH! SHUT UP SHUT UP!" They only butchered the first piece by stopping multiple times... but after my initial freak out, I appreciated it the step in commentary. It was really nice actually hearing the conductor of the evening, Nicholas Kraemer, speak about the music and how he thought it should be played and why. OK, low expectations and all, I was prepared for the brass section to be weak -- and no, no they weren't. They were actually overwhelming. If you have a budding French Hornist or Trumpet player, you ought to take them here for some inspiration. The brass section has some "brass" to it for sure. It's not my kind of thing (maybe I dated one too many French Horn players...). The acoustics are not terrible, but I was sitting pretty close so I can't say if there is a drop out in sound or what (main floor row K). The audience was surprisingly really well behaved -- no cell phones, no extraordinarily loud hacking. And the seats weren't as NEARLY as bad as the Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor (where my knees touch the back of the person's chair in front of me and I am only 5'6"). No overwhelming old biddy smell. But there was one gentleman who fell asleep towards the end, adding his own low rumbling snore to the music score. Unfortunately, there was this slow creep cold woosh that started at my feet and worked its way up during the performance. It just kept getting cold and colder... The auditorium itself is really quite beautiful. I really enjoyed myself and I'll be back for more $11 shows! read more

My husband and I have always loved DSO, but how they dealt with the Coronavirus changed our view. I called them asking for their plan towards the virus, the customer service told me they would call me back with an answer and I never received a call back. When they wanted us to subscribe to the seasonal tickets, we would receive two calls a day, now that they got the money, there is absolutely no service. Couple days after I called, they cancelled a show, and we are provided with the choice of either donating the ticket or changing it to a different show. We wanted to get a refund but ended up moving to another show. The very next day, after the cancelled show was supposed to be on, they changed the policy and allow for refund. We called back and they refuse to provide refund, because "we already changed the cancelled show to a different show". It's hard to believe they didn't plan the whole thing and timed it right to make it seems like they have a great policy while not allowing anybody actually getting any refund. Anyway, we will never become subscribers and let them lock our money. Be careful! Once you are in, they don't treat you like they used to. read more

This wasn't my first time to the rodeo, so to speak. Having lived in both Manhattan and St. Petersburg (Russia, not Florida) I know a thing or two about the going to the symphony. The orchestra itself delivered a solid performance. Their execution was very good, and Leonard Slatkin is a joy to watch as a conductor. There aren't that many conductors that are actually worth watching, but Slatkin is a member of a very, very small crew that is. And, the facilities are outstanding. They're elegant without being ostentatious, and large enough without being impersonal or cavernous. Very Goldilocks: just right. The one drawback, I have to say, was the audience. First off, is there an epidemic of tuberculosis raging through metropolitan Detroit of which I'm not aware? Honest to God, throughout the entire performance, it sounded as if a TB sanitarium had bussed in all of their consumptive patients for an evening of culture in Motown. A note to the wise: If you're sick, and coughing up a lung, stay home for Chrissakes. You can exchange your tickets so that you're not punctuating the performance with a staccato production of phlegmatic hacking. I also have to question the concessionaire's decision to sell potato chips. What is probably the noisiest snack food imaginable in the loudest packaging ever, and it's being sold at the symphony? Sell stringcheese, or Tootsie rolls, or anything, really, that Detroiters will enjoy consuming, that doesn't make noise. Onto my last gripe. While this offending group constituted a distinct minority, it was still a very noticeable one: the chatters. People, we're at the symphony. For two hours a week, you can go without saying whatever profound and weighty things it is that spew forth from your pie hole. The philistine in front of me (who happened to be dressed like a total prostitute) actually had the nerve to glare back at me when I shushed her like a pissy old school marm, and had the gall to continue chatting to her john. Had she tried that behavior in either St. Petersburg or New York, she would have had her throat slit by a classical music fanatic. While each of the above offenses, in and of themselves, were relatively minor, the combined overall effect was significant, and marred what had been an otherwise good performance. This, however, seemed to have no effect on the audience as a whole, as they felt compelled to give standing ovations at the end of each piece, which I felt was a bit overboard. However, when I told a friend about this, he told me that standing ovations at any sort of highbrow cultural event in Detroit are par for the course. And while that's fine, I'm going to keep my seat unless it's a truly worthy of a standing ovation. read more

I'm listening to the webcast of a DSO concert from the UK right now and it's reminding me of all the wonderful DSO concerts I went to at Orchestra Hall back when I lived in Detroit. The Detroit Symphony really is a fantastic orchestra. If you live in the Detroit area, you should go see them often. Not every city has an orchestra as good, and the tickets are very affordable. Right now, I wish I was there and planning to go out to TJs, the Majestic Cafe or Union Street after. Are they all still there? Anyway, take advantage of it. Since I've had a few glasses of wine, I just want to add this. To Barbara F., the woman from Boston whose review is down the page a bit: your review is snotty and you sound like a truly nasty human being. Great orchestras around the country are folding because people are afraid that they'll end up sitting next to someone like you if they go to a concert. Your elitist attitude is absolutely repulsive. Why don't you go eat a Big Mac at the MacDonalds in the middle of your great city's historical district and get over yourself? read more

Went to the DSO on Friday to hear the music of John Williams. I was so impressed with the orchestra! They are a truly amazing bunch. I felt like I was watching all of the movies while they played the music! Orchestra Hall is very beautiful - the theatre is very ornate with gold-laced ceilings and lions all over the place. The lobby had a concession area and the bathrooms were clean. We were waaaaay up about 3 rows from the back but we still had a great view, and we could hear everything perfectly. My only complaint is how squished everyone is in there! The seats are tiny and there is ZERO legroom...and I'm 5'2". I have no idea how normal sized people could enjoy sitting there for 2 hours. Also, a lot of the crowd was very chatty - if there's one thing I can't stand, it's talking during a performance...but a lot of people there felt it was fine to carry on conversations in a normal tone!! I wish they had people around to stop that. I honestly would have probably found an usher but I was so squished in my seats it was impossible to get out! If you're looking to have a really nice night out on the town, I highly recommend seeing the DSO at Orchestra Hall! read more

A world class orchestra in our own backyard. And orchestra hall is one of the finest classical music venues in the country, acoustically speaking. I've even had musician friends from NYC tell me they prefer it to Carnegie Hall. Sound and view-wise, there's really not a bad seat in the house. The symphony regularly plays community accessible gigs and kids concerts, as well as offering ticket discounts to students and young people. Nearly everyone can find something on the season's repertoire that they'll enjoy - shows can include anything from the tunes of John Williams, to a Chopin review, to selections from the Nightmare before Christmas, to jazz and pops, and everything in between. Get on their mailing list to receive heads up about free and cheap tickets. You can never go wrong. (My favorite part is, when leaving a show, walking back to the parking garage and seeing the orchestra members heading out the back door crossing the street to their vehicles, concert tux on and instrument case in hand. Something fun about seeing them there just so normal. As if they're not freaking amazing.) read more

I am so glad that the strike is over and Orchestra Hall is once again alive with the sounds of the DSO. The accoustics here are fantastic, it seems there is no such thing as a bad seat, and the talent is top-notch. Orchestra Hall is a beautiful facility- I was pleasantly surprised by the richness of the decor in the hall itself after the modern update to the lobby. On our recent visit, there was little to find fault with. Concessions prices are a bit high- and seems strangely inconsistent from one stand to the next... Also, the average guest age is still quite high. I'm not saying this is a bad thing- but for the sake of the DSO, it would be better if more young people came to enjoy the symphony. The DSO is doing their part with programs such as the 37/11 club. If you're not familiar, it's $11 tickets for anyone under the age of 37 with happy hour prices on beverages. I strongly encourage you to visit next season. If you can get $11 tickets and end up not being a big fan - you haven't lost much. But if you fall in love with the DSO, everyone wins! read more

I'm really kicking myself for making season closing night at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra my opening night at the DSO. After living here for an entire orchestra season, I finally took advantage of the DSO's 37/11 program and picked up some $60 seats for $11. Anybody younger than 37 can get tickets to most seats at select DSO concerts for only $11. You just have to sign up first on the website. You should be kicking yourself too if you haven't signed up for the program. I don't care if you "don't like classical music," for $11 you could think the music was crap (which it won't be) and just enjoy the amazing orchestra hall, the bustle of people in Midtown and a nice night out in Detroit. Detroit has a world-class symphony, and the audience took remarkable ownership of the symphony and the performance. It really felt like the orchestra was playing to the audience and the audience was just soaking in the emotion from their home-town gem. On the way home, we drove through the Wayne State University campus and what looked like an kids' dance performance getting out...lots of 5 year old in purple tutus, face makeup and balloons. read more

I've recently attended twice. The first was the "free" concert and the second was Beethoven. We had a terrible experience with the free concert being over sold. We made a lot of special arrangements to attend with the kids, paid to park, and when we arrived we were told we would have to sit in a viewing room. It was disappointing and not enjoyable. The box office did give us tickets for the Beethoven concert and a parking pass. The second concert was very nice. Great music, talented musicians. My only concern was... Where were all the pretty people? My husband said they were out on the town having a big time somewhere else and that the ugly people can at least snub them by saying they are more "cultured." Shouldn't pretty people visit the symphony too? Anyway...Nice concert. read more