Came to Houston Symphony to attend Distant Worlds. I enjoyed the performance a lot! Parking is kind of a drag but the employees did well on directing the flood of cars. What I like about this venue is that when you arrive late, they'll let you in between songs to not disrupt the performance but also not missing out. The venue in Chicago would make us wait until intermission. All the employees were super helpful and nice! Bathrooms were clean and nice. Definitely looking forwarding to seeing another performance here. read more

Houston Symphony - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

The premiere classical music symphony in the area performing in Jones Hall. Their schedule is a bit interesting but when there's classical bangers, this will be the highest level musicianship in town. Parking is a bit annoying unless you have downtown parking. Getting in is a quick process with digital tickets read more

Houston Symphony - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

I have only been to the symphony a handful of times, but each time I had a wonderful experience The theater and lobby are always clean and the layout/decor is trendy. While there are typically large crowds at events it rarely feels overly congested. The concessions run smoothly. Grab a glass of wine or other refreshments Security was a breeze. There are ushers that help you to your seat. Everyone was super helpful The theater is gorgeous, and the acoustics are great. This last show I went to was "John Williams and Steven Spielberg Movie Magic," and while a couple of the solo's could have been louder, the symphony together was awesome One of my favorite things about the theater is that it is subtly stadium seating, and every seat is a great seat. I also love that upon exit there are recyclable receptacles for your program. I love me some sustainability The last visit, and this is probably a one-off, but the floor was incredibly sticky, and anytime I loved my food it felt slightly glued to the floor. It was distracting for me and probably others Some tips: Check out their upcoming shows. For avid music and symphony lover consider one of their many subscription packages. There is a parking garage connected to the theater, and on hot Houston days, I would highly recommend this. While downtown explore some of the food halls and the unique bar scene Cheers!! read more

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Love coming here. All seats are great and it's an easy in and an easy out. They have discounted parking for a nearby garage but I don't really like to do that at night. Lyft pick up is easy and fast. The performance is always great and we went to a Shaggy concert with the Houston Symphony and it was so much fun! Best show yet! read more

The Houston Symphony is absolutely amazing and they play so beautifully. I've attended 2 Harry Potter movie concerts and both of them were so magical because of the Houston Symphony. They elevated the movie experience so much and I can't imagine how much hard work it took to learn it all. Their hard work and dedication is absolutely amazing and I can't wait to go back and see them perform again. read more

Houston Symphony - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

A night at the symphony, enjoying the music of Nat king Cole was a nice experience and lovely outing read more

Houston Symphony - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

Beautiful venue with convenient parking. nice bar service before the performance. Light snacks available. Saw Elf performed. Kind of disappointing that there was not a single word spoken to give background on the movie, the format presented or anything else. read more

If you're a Simp for Barbi, message privately. If you're a Simp for classical music, this is your place. I rarely frequent places like this, but when I'm dragged along, I'll go. It was actually amazing. Especially the venue. I can't believe how posh and Bougie Yelp is. It's like the real world (the not-the-wealthy-10% of the world) don't even Yelp, hardly. It's hilarious reading some of these reviews. This is not the Houston I live in! But, I respect it, and while I can't afford it, the hall is freaking stunning! I just wanna be part of your Symphony! read more

Houston Symphony - I'm a simp for symphony - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

Incredible - I have never had a bad experience at the Houston Symphony. Their concerts always blend beautiful music with informative, sometimes funny, anecdotes in between pieces from the conductor. They have an amazing selection of Pops, classical, movie, and holiday-themed favorites that you can surely find something you will love to watch. Best thing about a symphony (and the design of Jones Hall) - not a bad seat in the house, so don't worry if you think you are too far back. read more

So lucky to be invited to a Holiday Concert at the Houston Symphony. Hot chocolate. Christmas cookies. Ornaments. A singalong. Santa....and a menorah. Happy Hanukkah. Gonzalo Farias. An incredible conductor. His energy is off the charts. Amazing! And a lover of Home Alone! What a great movie that is also a holiday tradition in our home. Carole J. Bufford. Wow! From a small town in Georgia to the cabarets in NYC, loved how she wove stories with the holiday songs. Christmas with fireworks that lit up the holidays to the iconic Irving Berlin and who helped him with his compositions. The behind the scenes tales were fascinating. The symphony was incredible. So was the symphony chorus. Amazing that this was the 55th annual ConocoPhillips Holiday Concert. What a great way to celebrate the holidays. read more

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The Houston Symphony was such a wonderful surprise! The venue itself is beautiful and very easily located and accessible in downtown. I believe most performances are after 6PM which means free street parking, if you're lucky enough to find it, or willing to walk. I really enjoyed the performance I watched here and think its a great date night option for those wanting to listen to some live orchestral music! read more

This marvelous venue has tremendous acoustics allowing every seat in the house an exceptional experience. We went on an educational event, where the kids experience with the symphony opened eyes, imaginations, and spirits. I watched as children engaged with music in a truly individual and personal level. The performers were gracious, and the conductor engaging. The symphony staff are caring compassionate, and elevate the experience by their professionalism! read more

Houston Symphony - The view from our seats. - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

We were lucky to be in town for the Houston Symphony playing "From Stage to Screen: Broadway meets Hollywood" concert. It was amazing from the acoustics and venue to the personable Conductor (Steven Reineke) and excellent vocalists (Hugh Panaro & Elizabeth Stanley). Everyone involved with the Symphony was absolutely top notch! They played all of our favorites, from West Side Story (Bernstein/Peress), Andrew Lloyd Weber, Les Miserables, Sondheim and more. These are songs that most of us know and love (The Impossible Dream)....It was a wonderful night. Parking was easy at a nearby pay garage, or if you are lucky, street parking "can be" available for no charge after a certain time. read more

Do not recommend ever buying a bundle tickets at the new year. They will tell you they will mail it out and most of the time do not. We did not receive two shows of tickets that we paid for. When calling to ask them for a refund or some type of credit, they will tell you it is your fault or that you can purchase more tickets to future shows at no discount or credit for your tickets lost. Greats shows. Terrible customer service. read more

I'm sure there are plenty of sheeple in the city of Houston that will continue to support this stupid policy at this venue. But when is it gonna stop? The State of Texas DOES NOT MANDATE masks yet this facility, continues to mandate it. And why? Not all the performers are wearing masks, what makes them so special? It kinda like having a smoking section and a non-smoking section but regardless the whole place will still fill the area with cigarette smoke. Or perhaps I'm completely wrong?? I find it hypocritical and 100 PERCENT ridiculous. There's a sign outside that says SOCIAL DISTANCING...buuuuuut no one is social distancing nor are they enforcing the social distancing because ALL seats are being sold but masks are still required? I just want to laugh because it's completely comical. It just seems half assed and unorganized. read more

Houston is one of the largest cities in America and our symphony shows for it!!! The Houston Symphony performs at the long standing Jones Hall theatre downtown. Throughout the season they have several different genres to choose from that are adult and kid friendly. Many shows are not your "grandmothers"symphony so be sure to check the schedule because there is bound to be at least one show you'll be interested in each season. The theatre is located downtown. There is underground parking (2019 - parking is $12). You can always Uber. Limited street parking - if you get lucky. Lots of restaurants in the area to dine before the show. I am a fan of the orchestra seats however the grand tier box seats are good too. Side note, the back of the orchestra is too far from the stage in my opinion and the balcony is just too high and far away. The facilities sells snacks and drinks if you are in the mood for a bite or something to quench your thirst. Dress properly as you are attending the theatre. I am firm believe of NO JEANS when attending the theatre! Sit back, relax and enjoy. I am 100% you will have a beautiful time! read more

Houston Symphony - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

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We saw the Houston Symphony perform the 50th anniversary performance of Jaws and the music and orchestra did not disappoint; the performance was fantastic and what a great way to introduce people to the Houston Symphony. However, Jones Hall fell well short. They ran out of bottled water to sell before the show; we stood in line for 20 minutes and got to the counter as they were ringing the bell to be seated to be told they sold out of water. There was also not near enough staff to accommodate the very long lines for drinks and snacks before and during intermission of the performance. It was a sold-out show; they know ahead of time how many people are going to be there how do you not plan for that? The answer is greed. They care more about making money than paying to have adequate resources for those attending. If you are a VIP big money donor this review does not apply to you as you have a private bar and seating area available to you and your guests. Again, the Symphony did a great job it would be nice if Jones Hall would do better. read more

Bravo! Brava! Bravissimo!! Bravissima!! The Houston Symphony is doing great things with classical music across the city. I was fortunate to see them play at the Harmony in the Skies program at Houston Hobby International Airport, where they have a piano set up in the terminal, and maybe a sextet showed up and played on some soothing classical music to help travelers' frayed nerves. The musicians were patient about things like people hollering to their family that there's a restroom here, or would the passenger for the flight to Chicago O'Hare please check in at their gate for a final boarding call at gate 14. Throughout the whole experience, they played with the professionalism of the musicians on the Titanic, playing on in spite of such adversity of a chaotic airport terminal. As far as I could tell, their solos were all spot on and their music was right on time. It was a nice way to spend part of my layover in Houston. read more

This place is such a blast! If you love classical music, I would recommend this place to you, I went here and I had the time of my life! 5 star! And if I could 1,000! read more

Obviously, the Houston Symphony has talented musicians. This isn't that kinda review. If you really didn't know that...where have you been? Instead this review is about all the different and creative ways they show off their musical talents. I've been to a Jurassic Park show where you watch the movie and listen to the soundtrack by the symphony. Quick note, you don't have to dress up to the nines for those type of events. I've come here for the Harry Potter series, Fantasia (which people dressed up for), and their early Cinco de Mayo celebration where they brought in a local elementary school to dance folklorico and the mariachi band from a local high school. To me the true value of the Houston Symphony is that it caters to a huge and diverse audience. It will have those over the top expensive, traditional shows with people wearing extra fancy clothes, and the next week they'll announce they're doing a tribute to George Michael, followed by more Harry Potter shows. When you hear the symphony live playing pieces from Coco, Harry Potter, or even a traditional Mozart, you know they are the best of the best. What makes them outstanding is that they actually make it a point to encourage a wide audience to visit. I love this place and can't wait to go to both stuffy shows to feel fancy and more fun entertaining ones as well. read more

Houston Symphony - Taking my mom with my husband to celebrate her birthday. - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

I went to Very Merry Pops, and it was pure perfection. The Houston Symphony Chorus, the musicians, the soloist (Mandy Gonzalez), and the conductor (Lucas Waldin) were ALL amazing. And a shout-out to Santa, too. I wish I could give them more stars on Yelp. Check them out; I know you'll love them, too. read more

Not going to lie, I enjoy a symphony performance where half the audience is pooping their pants wearing Princess dresses and the show lasts for one hour and ends on a high note. I'm thinking the Children's Symphony series is just as much of a win for adults as it is for the kiddos. I had too much fun at this morning's "Be Our Guest" performance which featured songs from beauty and the Beast, ET and the narration with accompanying music of "Tubby the Tuba". For starters, this is a beautiful auditorium located in the heart of downtown Houston. More on the modern side with Guggenheim vibes. I've always been amazed at how strongly the Houston community rolls out the red carpet for the arts and shows up in big numbers. Today was no exception. With back to back kids performances they had a full house, what appeared to be the complete orchestra along with a local high school choir. Before the show kicked off they did a tremendous job of offering hands-on and educational opportunities like crafts and a "petting zoo" for kids to try their hand at the different instruments ranging from drums to tubas. They had plenty of volunteers on hand to educate the attendees and facilitate the pre-show stations. I'm told tickets for kids to the show run around $12. read more

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Nice venue with good acoustics. Meals and drinks available. Bathrooms need improving. Recommended. read more

Houston Symphony - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

Have enjoyed all the shows we have attended. Finding park has gone smoothly for us as long as we arrive early.

I am blessed to be able to live stream Handel's Messiah performed by the symphony and the chorus tonight. So beautiful! Thank you for offering it live stream for those of us who no longer live in Houston. read more

There are few things in Houston in the arts department that I think has other metropolitan areas trumped hands down. The Houston Symphony, especially for its price point and proximity to downtown, has got everything else in this city beat. It is absolutely competitive to other major metropolitan symphonies if not surpassing. I became a subscriber to the Houston Symphony and have seen Earth, Wind and Fire; Itzhak Perlman; Kristin Chenoweth; a Simon and Garfunkel tribute duo; Ashley Brown (originating the role of US Mary Poppins); stars from Wicked the musical; and so much more. I'm awaiting Disney in Symphony and West Side Story, and last summer there was a great SciFi event, too. The 2013-14 year promises Chris Botti, Joshua Bell, John Williams (Star Wars), YoYo Ma (cellist for Memoirs of a Geisha), and many others. I just think in terms of bang-for-the-buck, I really love the Symphony. One of their POPS conductors -- Michael Krajewski -- is so witty and funny. And the quality of the symphony is just tremendous. Support your local artists and bring a +1 to this fun place! (Notably: Jones Hall is not my favorite in terms of bathrooms, especially for women, but I'll suck it up for the Houston Symphony.) read more

I love the Houston Symphony! It's perfect for an introvert like me who enjoys classical, wordless, music and fodder for pondering the intellectual intricacies of the world. Or, really, to just feel that for the next two hours I have no obligation to people, screens, or other cacophony. It's just bliss. I didn't appreciate the symphony as a child, but the non-verbal easement of the mind is something I find myself valuing as I age. I have a subscription now and hope to renew next season as well. It's great to have 4-6 concerts calendared that take precedence over any other noisy event. Until next time... read more

This was my third time visiting the Houston Symphony. While I'm not huge on classical music and orchestras, I do like to dabble from time to time. The Houston Symphony does it right. First, it's a stunning venue. The lobby area is nice. There's a bar area, a restaurant serving pasta and some grab-and-go options, and a good amount of seating. You can even preorder so your food is ready to pick up during the intermission. Inside the theater, the seats are comfortable, the venue has a modern feel, and there are TVs on each side above the stage. The TVs show close-ups of different members of the orchestra throughout the show which is pretty cool! Since every show is different, I won't go into the details of the show I attended. If you've never been, it's something you should try at least once. They have a lot of themed shows so there's a lot of variety to find something you're interested in. Added bonus: They had a special cocktail during the performance I attended which was inspired by the theme of the performance. Talk about good marketing! I couldn't help but order the special cocktail. read more

I absolutely love our Symphony. I'm not a huge classical music fan like some of the others who come through here, but when they're putting on good performances or pieces that I want to hear live, I always make an effort to go. Jones Hall itself can be a bit troublesome, with lots of construction in the area, heavy congestion in areas with parking, and some of the staff can be rude, but I can't hold that against the performers themselves. They are world class musicians putting on world class performances. One of the things that struck me and really set this organization apart is how they try to engage all demographics. They're really good about embracing pop culture with movie nights (complete with live musical score), musical samples from video games and orchestra heavy series, and even family friendly short programs that get kids engaged. read more

I love you Houston Symphony. Your last two Mahler performances were exhilarating! You were unfazed by a false fire alarm which kept the performance from going on for about 20 minutes last weekend. So classy! Can you please perform Pines of Rome... ?!?! Please!!!!! Thx! read more

Houston Symphony - Yes. Yes. Yes. - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

Love love love their live music cinemas and live concert w Boyz II Men! Would be nice to have some clearer marked parking options.

Omg! My experience here was phenomenal. So elegant, well organized and sophisticated. I came on a weekend around 2ish to see Shostakovich and his violin guest artist Adim both were astonishing and couldn't been more intrigued. In this theatre all seats are perfect for viewing and you get a intimate close up of the performance. Each intermission was around 10-15 min or so and they had a bar where you can get drinks and food. So elegant and classic. I parked not too far I parked at the parking garage they recommended which was maybe 3-4 blocks away and the symphony validate your parking ticket which was pretty awesome. read more

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I have never been to any kind of symphony before but when given the opportunity to couple the symphony in with an event created by Farra, I knew this was finally the time to check it out. I was lucky enough to see Pink Martini. They are a band of sorts from Oregon with their sound being a blend of classical, jazz, Latin and Parisian cabaret music. I saw the Pops version this night instead of the classical, I didn't know the difference but apparently Pops, is more modern/contemporary, which is definitely something I prefer. The show started out with the traditional performance from the Houston Symphony, they played Offenbach's Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld, V. Youmans/Dragon's Carioca from Flying Down To Rio, and Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien, Opus 45. I didn't recognize any of these pieces by name but I clearly recognized, the end of the Offenbach piece which was the Can-Can. I loved the conductor, Robert Franz, he was a lot of fun, not your traditional conductor, and totally not what I was expecting. He was funny, danced along, and even made corny jokes in between songs. At Intermission, we were blessed with Pink Martini. I didn't really know what to expect because their set up looked like a band, but they had the whole symphony in the back. Once they started playing it was so much fun. The leader singer, China Forbes, is so talented. They played songs of all different languages. Probably some of the most fun I've had out in a long time! read more

I never thought of myself as a "Symphony" kind of guy and I never thought to go to a Symphony until Yelp Houston offered free tickets to its Elite members to attend "The Contemporary Songbook" feat singer/musician Tony DeSare. There are plenty of parking garages around Jones Hall so Parking wouldn't be a problem. If you're lucky enough to find parking on the streets, then parking is free. However, I opted to park at the Alley Theater on the other side of the street and paid $7. Since I'd never been to a symphony before, I wasn't really sure as to what the dress code would be so I completely GQ'd up. Yup, suit and tie. However, upon entering Jones Hall, I noticed that suit and tie are not the rule, but the exception. Most of the audience were wearing what I would call business casual. Some were even wore fancy jeans and dress shoes. I guess as long as you're comfortable and not too casual, you're welcome at Jones Hall. I sat on the balcony almost all the way at the very back. However, I still had a pretty good view of the stage. They also had a big screen on both the left and right side of the walls for your viewing pleasure. As for the performance. I didn't realize that I loved the Symphony until they started playing one song after the next. I caught myself constantly tapping my feet and humming along with a smile on my face. The Conductor for the night, Michael Krajewski, was amazing. He was making conversation with the audience and told some short jokes in regards to abbreviation in text messages for old people (BFF = Best Friend's Funeral, etc.) I found myself laughing to some of the more corny jokes that he threw out. The Houston Symphony also performed some of the songs by the band Chicago and some songs from the album Tapestry by Carole King. Tony DeSare also amazed with his rendition of some of the more popular songs in the past few decades such as Kiss by Prince, Faithfully by Journey, and Times They Are a Changin' by Bob Dylan. They offer light food and wine/beer at the concession stands outside. I didn't really pay attention to the food pricing but I did get myself and my friend a couple of glasses of Malbec and a bottle of water. That came to $21 ($9 per glass of Malbec and $3 for a bottle of water). It's kind of expected to pay more at a venue such as Jones Hall. I will definitely be returning to the Houston Symphony for other performances that they will be having. read more

Love the symphony. Been coming here since I was a kid and it's only getting better. Sound is excellent! This is pretty much the only place in Houston for large-scale indoor symphonies. Miller Outdoor Theater sometimes has symphonic performances but then again, it's outdoors. The venue is quite good and you really don't have a bad seat in the house. The only drawback is that it's located in downtown Houston and it's very hard to find a place to park. My recommendation would be to park underground, under Jones Plaza (just across the street from Jones Hall). Drinks are very expensive here too, so be prepared. Negative points aside, I really enjoy the new Conductor. Really a top-notch conductor from Argentina. We recently saw the Mozart & Shostakovich symphony. Absolutely one of the best symphonic concerts I've ever seen. read more

Ahh... the symphony! There is not much left to say, other than to give my opinion of it all. It was enjoyable with rather comfortable seating... just a little to pricey for me to go to on a regular basis. The last time I went was because someone with season tickets could not go... I'd say the place was at most 2/3rd full. Perhaps they should offer half price tickets an hour before the shows? Yes... there are $8 tickets, but its only for the bland formal orchestra stuff... During the summer there are many free shows you can catch at various events... I've hit up one of those... and while the music is just as good, they tend to be short (30 minutes on average) and the kids tend to be loud. The special events seem awesome, such as Video Games Live, and the upcoming Monty Pythons inspired show... but decent tickets cost $50+ each for these. Or pay $25-35 for obstructed views! Hit it up once a year for a dose of culture... it's worth it... on occasion. read more

I just attend my first concert at the Symphony and it won't be my last. I went to one of their "pop" concerts entitled "Star Wars and More: Music of John Williams." As a Star Wars/Williams fan I really enjoyed the performance. Most of the two hour song set was from Star Wars but themes from Harry Potter, Jaws, Superman, Indiana Jones, ET all popped up during the show. Star Wars characters also made appearances on stage such as a jawa, R2-D2, Stormtroppers, and even Vader himself. Conductor Michael Krajewski was brilliant and fun making jokes between pieces and telling stories. He is the conductor of the "pops" side of the Symphony while I think Hans Graf deals with more of the classical side as music director. Location is right downtown and easy to get to and the price of a ticket was pretty good. I paid 30 bucks for balcony seat, all the way at the top, but I could still see everything and more importantly I could hear everything. For 99 bucks you can get a 9 event pass for either classical or pops which is a really good deal. Granted it is in the balcony selection and the 99 bucks is only for Sundays but it is really worth it. I'm really considering buying one soon. If you have some free time and want to have a good night out and enjoy some great live music of either pop culture or the classics, go to the Symphony. I think you'll be glad you did. read more

Houston Symphony - Performing Arts Near Me - Houston, Texas

Awesome time enjoying Houston's bets performance and talent. Do not wait any longer and support our Houston talent. This place is just Awesome!! read more

This was such an enjoyable experience! Due to Covid, there weren't many people in attendance and they were following all safety protocols. We saw conductor Fabian Gabel and it was amazing. I would highly recommend! read more

Went for a free concert back in April I think it was and I was totally hooked. Last Saturday I attended the screening of Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring where the symphony provided the entire soundtrack. I honestly do not have the words to describe it. The music was already moving enough but to have it right there so close so loud...and the soloist was glorious {I never thought anyone could sing Enya better than Enya but I was proved wrong} ...I openly wept several times. I certainly hope with those two showings being sold ut that the other two films will be upcoming. They have recently done Bugs Bunny and the music from Final Fantasy. A viewing of The Matrix is coming In November. I like this mix of current media with the classical music. I hope this will introduce a whole new audience and generation to Classical Music. read more