After three symphony visits, I'm not impressed. Acoustically the sound was dead. Architecturally, it's a hulk of a building, weirdly positioned to lose any impact in or outside of it. Once you find out that the gorgeous and acoustically excellent Music Hall or Fox Theater on 7th Ave was offered to the symphony, you may want to cry. Instead of a 2,000 seat icon we have a dull building, dead sound and bum fights outside to greet patrons. The Music Hall was demolished and instead we have this. BFD. read more

This room is absolutely beautiful. We do not live in Seattle, so I don't know the history of the venue. It appears to have been recently remodeled. We were, unfortunately, up in a tier. I did not think the acoustics were so great towards the back, but I'm sure the rest of the room is amazing. Why three stars? The bus stop has more comfortable seating. Honestly, the wood is gorgeous but extremely uncomfortable. Also, someone is falling to their death from one of the tiers eventually. I can't believe inspectors allowed the rail to be so low. read more

I've been here a few times for concerts/the symphony and a few times for company meetings. I've discovered that the seats in the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium can be a bit uncomfortable at times but the seats in the Illsley Rehearsal Hall are roomy and comfortable and provide a great seating experience for what ever you may be experiencing in that hall. The acoustics are great for any event that takes place there and I could stare at the Dale Chihuly sculptures Crystal Cascade all day long I love them. read more

Great performances! Great music! Lousy food choices. Restaurants outside close before the main act even starts. The snacks that are available the rest of the time are horrible, candy bars are the best I could find. read more

If you are a music lover and enjoy symphonic music especially this is the place to go. Benaroya Hall is the home of the Seattle Symphony under the musical direction of Ludovic Morlot. We have been here several times and the experience is worth repeating over and over. We enjoy concerts here because the acoustics are so good and no matter where you sit the sound really comes out. The aisles are more sloped than other halls that I've been to and they are carpeted---the ushers always make you aware of this. There are four aisles, so one doesn't have to brush past twenty people trying to make your way to a chair. As for the music, we have heard violin concertos and piano concertos and it's all been good. Seattle does get some top rated artists. We heard pianist Lang Lang at the opening of the 2013 concert season. On this recent New Year's Eve concert we heard the Mozart 31st Symphony and the very famous Beethoven 9th Symphony, done with orchestra and chorus with the famous "Ode to Joy." The hall was packed, everyone was decked out in festive clothes, and it was a great way to start the New Year! read more

Just quick update.. I recently went to an amazing concert here... sat..VERY LAST ROW POSSIBLE. ...yet were was still able to hear the performer talking on stage :) read more

We are so lucky here in Seattle to have a space like Benaroya Hall. Every seat in Benaroya Hall is great. I've been all the way in the back on the 3rd level and the ground floor, and I can see and hear really well. In fact, the sound acoustics are even better on the 3rd level! I love that Benaroya Hall makes the symphony accessible for young patrons too, check out their special ticketing programs for those in their 20s/30s and students. Current Seattle Symphony Conductor Ludovic Morlot is fantastic, and the lineup each season keeps getting better and better. In addition to orchestral music, there are also other special events and concerts held at Benaroya Hall. It is so special to be able to have a night out in this lovely space. read more

Just went here for the first time to see their Origins presentation. The venue is amazing. We had Founders Seats which offered a perfect view of the symphony. They sounded excellent and the presentation (which mixed original compositions with astro-biology) was really well done. Excellent acoustics! read more

I absolutely adore this hall (the Chihuly chandeliers are fabulous too)!! I last took in Rachmaninoff's 3rd - incredible performance and unsurpassed acoustics!! read more

A project 12 years in the making, its dramatic glass, steel, and limestone design helps complete Seattle's midtown revival. Modeled after Vienna's Grosser Musikvereinssaal and Amsterdam's Concertgebouw with a classic horseshoe plan, Benaroya Hall aspires to an acoustical purism uncluttered by the baffles and architectural cheats of many other modern symphony halls. By far, Benaroya Hall is my favorite place to hear acoustic music in Seattle read more

These guys do the dead white guy composer thing like nobody's motherfucking business.

I've only attended concerts at the smaller of the two spaces, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, but after seeing 9-10 shows here, I can confidently state this is one of my favorite places to see musical performances. The recital hall has a capacity just over 500, and even in the back of the room, I've had a clear view of the performers. Sound is crystal clear, and thankfully the audience attracted to shows here is nearly silent. The docents have been helpful for finding a seat quickly on the occasion I arrived late. read more

Definitely the lowest point of my visit to Seattle. This review is not for the hall or symphony performance, which were both wonderful. Rather I was extremely disappointed by a specific employee who refused to speak directly to me, making me feel extremely discriminated against. An older balding man that appeared to be in charge, of all things! Mumbling in response to my question and looking over his shoulder as if I couldn't be bothered with. Knowing that the company I work for is a major sponsor makes me feel even more regretful. read more

My daughter is a fan of classical music. This was the spot she first listened to it live, @ 8 months in my womb. She thoroughly enjoyed it, moving joyously around as we sat in box seats. One of my most cherished memories. read more

If it weren't for some of the strange and even annoying characters I encountered at Benaroya, I probably would have given this venue 5 stars. But alas, my experience was tainted by weirdos and idiots. Which is such a shame because it was the Ann & Nancy Wilson (of Heart) concert, & I love me some Heart. Part of this has to do with the fact that alcohol is served at this venue. People aside, the venue is beautiful. The seats are comfortable and not crowded together at all. I was disappointed though that at the beginning of the show during the conversation segment, the sound was so effed up. Ann & Nancy's microphones were giving off so much feedback which was really distracting. Sometimes the mics were loud and other times soft. Thankfully this was fixed by the time they performed. But I kept thinking: Wtf? Why isn't anyone from their sound team trying to fix this? It's a great place to see a music performance though. I would definitely return for a concert in the future. To the drunk man who kept yelling dumb shit at Ann & Nancy - You are such an asshole. You ruined my high and threw everyone's vibe off. Seriously. Didn't you know it was time to stop when Ann & Nancy were making fun of you and the entire venue was laughing AT you? I wish he had been kicked out. read more

This is a wonderful venue! We arrived 5min before seating and we had no problems. I would recommend purchasing the parking pass before the show. It helps a lot since the spot is reserved. The Seattle Symphony was impressive and they had special guests. The hall itself was nice. We had a great view from the center of the 2nd Tier. Very easy to get to! Also, they serve the normal beverage and snack before the show and during intermission. Most of the attendees were dressed in business attire/semi formal. read more

Talk about the crown jewel of Seattle. The auditorium is amazing - acoustics are perfect, our view from row 'p' orchestra left was great, and the Seattle Symphony's performance of Handel's Messiah was mesmerizing. The building is in tip-top condition, particularly considering its busy calendar. I am kicking myself for living here 6 years and never coming to a performance until now. I am dying to return soon. read more

my wife and i came here for a symphony recently.. it was open seating but enough seats to grab a decent view of the stage.. maybe it was the music.. but the crowd tended to be older and even graying before my eyes.. the ushers also closed the doors promptly when the symphony started some people were stuck outside until the intermission of note... they do need better dining/snacking options read more

My Valentine's Day present this year was dinner and tickets to the Seattle Symphony. I was very surprised but delighted by such an unexpected gift! It was my first time in Benaroya Hall and I thought it was really simplistically beautiful. I am not that familiar with classical music, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I can't really say anything about the quality of the performance - I have little to base it on, but for the very little it's worth, I thought it was great. I was really surprised at how young the crowd was (majority 20s-40ish) as every other symphony I've attended has been overridden by the 65+ crowd (not that that keeps me away - it's just something I noticed!). It was a great evening of music, people watching, and really enjoying something Seattle has to offer. I hope to go back sooN! read more

I've been bringing my kids to Tiny Tots and Discover Music series at Benaroya for years. Tiny Tots is held in the upstairs recital hall and the Discover Music is held downstairs in the auditorium. We've loved all the performances we've attended. The people who work here are knowledgable and friendly. There's also a Starbucks inside for a coffee on our way out. read more

I have been to Benaroya Hall numerous times for various things, most recently for the National Geographic Lecture Series. It is awesome they do this in Seattle and that I can attend. It makes Benaroya Hall all the better for hosting it. read more

Beautiful interior. I saw a few orchestras here and a Ben Folds concert where I practically sat on stage. Prices for the theater and concerts are really starting to soar, but I usually get a good deal here and enjoy the venue. read more

Very beautiful room. Great acoustics. Crowd is very refined and nice to rub elbows with. Good location within Seattle

Enchanting China, an East-Asia mix of glamorous dresses, full-volume conductor hair, gentle and vibratous strokes of the strings, all which I could not name a single instrument (My guesses they came from China). Flamboyant swings of his hip and magical twirls in the wand, The man commanded scores of orchestral masterpieces all of which I didn't understand (My guess they were made in China). Top highlights include a call & response sequence involving three ladies and three men, and of course the Fusion Opera Singer (according to the posters outside) with I believe has vocal cords hidden inside her beautiful dress or in her stomach. She owned the stage with cryptic (I think it was the Chinese language), yet powerful projections that defines Opera. Highly recommend, for those who would like to experience music from the east (and not just Chinese food, although that's not a bad choice either). read more

I went here last night for a performance featuring 3 children I used to babysit for, as part of a Northwest Boys Choir/Vocalpoint choir concert. I thought the theater was lovely, seats fairly comfortable, and acoustics to die for. I was seated in the upper balcony, but very centered. It was a holiday concert, so naturally some classic and not so classic songs were sung. However, the robes the children were wearing looked like straight jackets when they were seated-slightly creepy! read more

Beautiful venue. I came here before for a concert and it was really nice. We came here recently to see the Seattle Symphony. We had seats in the second tier and we had a nice view of the entire orchestra. We're not really classical music buffs, but we do enjoy it from time to time. During intermission, they have wine and beer in the lobby, and there's a Starbucks and a little cafe (Wolfgang Puck). read more

Lovely stylized venue, good acoustics for music ( not so good for voice or spoken word events.) I wish the seats had more leg room. Be sure and ask an usher if they know where the flamingoes are. Really. read more

Benaroya Hall is the place to go for classical music in Seattle. We first attended a free Sunday show for the opening of the season and were completely blown away by the fantastic acoustics. If you're concerned about seating, don't be. Anywhere you sit in Benaroya guarantees a beautiful sound. If you're in your 20's and 30's, call up the Symphony and ask them about the WolfGang. It's a great way to meet others, attend fun wine tastings at intermission, learn more about the concerts, and go to some awesome parties. read more

Great place to hear a concert and the Symphony was fabulous. I really like the tiered box seating. We sat in the orchestra section this time but will try to other areas as well. Parking is expensive but you can keep your car there until about 10pm and walk around downtown so that turns out to be OK. read more

Was here a few months back for a Jason Maraz concert and had a great time. Spacious seats, great sound system unlike the key arena venue. Clean, new. read more

I saw Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds and it was amazing! The sound is really nice too.

Great venue for a concert. The sound is great, parking is easy - I recommend.

Have been subscribing to their tiny tots for quite a few years now. (it is symphony for kids). Their group sales supervisor, Forest, is amazing. He is so so helpful. Part of the reason I renew our subscription (for a whole group) every year. Love their customer service! Tiny tots with Lisa and Linda is a very great program for little kids! read more

I used to have seasonal passes here and I really loved some of the performances it's a great place to escape.

Very nice hall went for a graduation and the staff and facilities were great. Parking was easy but getting out of the area at 5pm was no fun. read more

Awesome event for kids today...elementary students played along w/the Seattle Symphony!!!

Terrific acoustics! A wonderful place to go and listen to music. They also use it for graduations. Any excuse to go is good enough for me!

My wife and I saw Chris Cornell on September 29,2015 and it was awesome! Great venue. Can't wait for our next show....

Just finished with Yiruma's concert. It was disappointing. Don't get me wrong he did a great job. I paid VIP tickets to meet him and I was being rushed in and out (less than 2 mins). He didn't even sign the music book. They said it was going to take too long. It's not my fault that Benaroya Hall got greedy and open up a whole bunch more VIP seats. I was the first to purchase my tickets when it went on sale. I looked at all VIP seats and there were around 20 somethings only. A couple months later the VIP seats double (they added more VIP tickets). I will not see Yiruma again if he came back to the US. Love his music dislike the whole process. It's not worth it to pay VIP price. read more

Beautiful, stunning. As a newcomer to Seattle, it was everything I thought it would be and more. Sophisticated but casual, cultured but not pretentious. Loved it! read more