A nice historic venue. They have table service too so if you come early enough you can get drink orders in but with the seating generally tight I'm not sure that's a great idea unless you are seated on the outer rim. Eating would be even more complicated so no comment on the food or drink from me other than it is available. Do come here for the music. For me it is the second time seeing the Pops with a good stretch of years in between. Perhaps it depends on the show but it seems like few get dressed up anymore. As much as I don't like to myself there is a large spectrum of dress and even I think it has tilted too far to the casual. The acoustics are reasonable and the conductor was very entertaining. Overall, something to give a try to at least once in your life. read more

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What an experience. Truly great to hear the Boston Symphony play. Highly recommend a visit if you are in the area and they are playing. A very talented lot of musicians. The ambiance of the place is amazing as depicted by the photos. It's an experience as mentioned. No food or drink here. read more

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" Classy & fun " Why not make something educational fun and classy . This is what is done here . Loved my experience here and I had fun . Parking is difficult but manageable. Staff is all around and friendly. The vibe is welcoming. read more

Boston Symphony Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Symphony Hall is an absolute must visit for visitors and residence of Boston. It's location also is ideal for a nice outing in Back Bay and a walk along the Christian science Plaza. Contrary to what some people might think, this Symphony Hall hosts and they need different events not only musical concerts. The building building itself is quite old, but has a nice charm. I went for symphony for science and paid a very reasonably price ticket around $25 or so. My view was excellent despite being all the way in the back. The acoustics are unmatched. I would definitely check them out when in the area! The food offerings are quite limited based on what is sold at the concession stand. read more

Boston Symphony Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Went here after ages to watch a comedy show, the last time being a few years ago for a friend's graduation ceremony. It's a beautiful hall absolutely no doubt about that. Our seats were in the orchestra, we're easy to find because we had an aisle seat and we had a decent view of the stage. There is a slight elevation when you walk from the aisle into the seats so just be mindful. Sound quality was good. There was also a screen at the back on the stage and displayed visuals as part of the show. Went and used the restroom as soon as we got there just before the show started which was good. The usher was very nice and helpful. We took an Uber there because it was pouring cats and dogs that night! Luckily they have a very large awning at front so when waiting for the return ride, didn't have to get wet. Overall good experience! read more

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I attended the Holiday Pops last night at Symphony Hall in Boston and had a great time! Keith Lockhart, the orchestra and the Tanglewood chorus were a delight! A happy escape from the world outside! read more

If you are one that enjoys music a concert at Boston Symphony Hall an experience that can't be missed. I was unaware that that there are multiple orchestras that perform there and now I have witnessed two of the best. I've seen both the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), both were beyond expectations! Symphony Hall itself is a beautiful building with architectural brilliance. Parking is very easy at Christian Science right across the street. They do serve drinks and light snacks before performances and during intermissions. Staff and volunteers are plentiful and will kindly escort you around. The operation is very well run. You will pass thru security on entrance to the building. If you have the opportunity to see a show here you will be amazed by the talent and production right before you at Boston Symphony Hall. read more

Boston Symphony Hall - Boston Symphony Orchestra - Performing Arts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Women restroom during intermission is a nightmare. Not enough restroom! Need restroom on the third floor as well. People cut in line and multiple lines were formed and no staff to organize it! Quite annoying. read more

Acoustics ate great. But the ushers are wearing a chest of pins. The pins include political stands although. A bit pathetic.

Came to Symphony Hall to see the Holiday Pops from the Boston Pops Orchestra. It is a long room so back sections are pretty far from the stage. Staff were friendly. Seating is way too tight. I suggest making sure you are at an end table so you are at least able to move a little bit. Food available but didnt try anything. Drinks were expensive but strong and got to the table quick. read more

Boston Symphony Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This is a beautiful venue with three floors of seating. I had tickets for the third floor balcony and it was very comfortable. People coming to the symphony had a variety of dress. It ranged from ripped jeans to floor length dresses and suits. It looked like there were multiple lounges for refreshments, but I didn't get any. There were also restrooms on each of the first two floors, and the one I visited was very clean. Overall, this made for a lovely night out. read more

What I liked - Music is awesome. - not a bad seat in the house - boxed dinner was great: sushi-grade salmon and a nice cut of beef. read more

Boston Symphony Hall - The conductor and the BSO - Performing Arts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

It's a blessing to have the music mile nestled in the heart of Boston. Ok, no one calls it that, but it deserves some name because it is a rare occurrence to have refined institutions of the musical variety flanking an historic symphony hall. An ecosystem of talent where the extraordinary is perhaps matched only by the diversity. We had the treat of experiencing Jesus Molina, a Columbian-born pianist who trained at the Berklee College of Music, and Charlie Albright, who studied at the New England Conservatory, at the same concert with Branford Marsalis for an evening at the Pops. Leading the charge was the charismatic Keith Lockhart who used the term "orgiastic cacophony" to describe a piece. I have a lot of respect for anyone that can throw those words together in polite society. You may be thinking that you can listen to great music more cheaply at the New England Conservatory and the Berklee College of Music -- and you would be right about that -- but the curated, historical experience here is an exceptional delicacy (like a Lambrusco spritz on a summer evening -- there I brought it back to food!). read more

Boston Symphony Hall - Branford Marsalis and Jesus Molina in concert. - Performing Arts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great music venue but the electronic ticket system is a nightmare. Why does a world class orchestra have an almost unusable e-ticket system?

If it was fake, it'd be Sym-phoney Hall. But it's not. If you think it is, you don't know what the Hall you're on about. Also known as the Boston Pops. Boston keeps expanding and expanding. One of these days, don't say I didn't warn you when Boston Pops. This is one of the most gorgeous and classically beautiful buildings in Boston, both inside and out, and it's a must-attend for concerts in a city that celebrates such concerts in a more in-depth and appreciative way then perhaps most other cities in America do. Definitely one of my favorite buildings in the city. read more

Boston Symphony Hall - In symphony, some things have just got to be - Performing Arts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I was taken to see the Handel and Haydn Society perform here at the Boston Symphony Hall as an anniversary present and surprise date. The H+H Society did a spectacular concert with a dazzling orchestra and beautiful vocals. I adored listening to the Cantatas and the beautiful interpretations of Bach's classical music. The symphony hall itself is classy and elegant which provides a wonderful backdrop to the performance of such talented musicians. Masking was recommended, but optional. We went to the Sunday show so the hall was not overcrowded at all. Overall, a magnificent experience I would definitely recommend this venue and the superb acoustics for classical music fans! read more

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Went for their Christmas performance. It of course was amazing performance. The holiday cocktails were festive and tasty! If you're lucky like me you'll sit next to a group of older women who'll talk the first two songs. I finally spoke up since I traveled from Colorado to see the Pop's. Table seating is tight. Even more so with everyone dressed for winter weather. read more

Boston Symphony Hall - Santa Claus - Performing Arts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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What a gorgeous space. We hadn't been in years but we recently returned to see the BSO's performance of Beethoven's 8th and 9th. Heaven!!! We are fortunate to have a beautiful venue and an exceptional sympathy here in Boston. We plan to attend more performances on a regular basis. read more

Bottom Line: A beautiful historic landmark, the best concert hall in the US and home to the amazing Boston POPS. Boston Symphony Hall is considered to be "among the top three concert halls in the world ... and is considered the finest in the United States." But what really impressed me is that this perfection was not achieved with modern technology but with turn of the century technology. Opened in 1900, the credit for the amazing acoustics go largely to the expertise of a Harvard professor. I'm no expert but I certainly enjoyed what I heard and especially the organ. More on organs later... Visiting the Boston POPs has been on my bucket list for awhile and I finally checked it off with a Christmas time visit for Holiday POPs. We bought our tickets way late so we ended up with seats in the back of the first balcony (basically as far away from the stage as you can get) but we still thoroughly enjoyed the concert. I thought it was so cool to be sitting in the original seats! Wow, what a luxury it must have been to attend a concert here in 1900. The architectural style of the building is Renaissance. I'm fascinated by architecture but a total amateur so to me Renaissance means grandness and statuary. Sure enough, there are sixteen replicas of Green and Roman statues above the tippy top first balcony. Remember when I said we'd come back to organs? Well, we sat under a naked guy statue - I believe it was the Greek lyric poet Anacreon. Speaking of organs, I truly love a live organ whether it be at a sporting event, in a church or at a concert hall. The Aeolinean-Skinner organ at the BSO has 4,800 pipes! I wish I could remember how many feet of pipe that is. It sounded grand, festive and certainly commands attention! There is a size-able gift shop on the first floor so if you plan to do some shopping be sure to call for the hours. It was not open after the Saturday evening show we attended but a smaller pop-up shop on the second floor was. There are a few bars to grab a pricey drink before the concert or at intermission but we passed having indulged in a lobstah dinner before hand. We walked to the BSO but there are various parking garages in the area and a T (subway) station right out front. Having attended a concert on a Saturday night we dressed up as did most people. Some people were really dressy and looking lovely in cocktail dresses and some people came casual and what I would consider underdressed. read more

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This review is not standard. It's for the Guster show with the Pops on 6/7. The setup for table service is bananas. Everyone is jammed into each other. It's so uncomfortable. Good luck if you need to go to the bathroom. Forget it, you're trapped. And with people such close quarters, it's hard to see the stage of you're a kid and have floor seats. Way better off in the balcony. I'll never come back here for any show with table service again. A bright spot are that the people who work there are super nice and helpful. read more

This is a review of Boston symphony Hall, not Boston pops. I feel compelled to speak about the hall itself, not the event, not the pops ( which I have enjoyed) and love the Pops orchestra. That said the hall is miserable. No tiered seating for Christmas pops. Plan on a JAMMED packed flat floor seating , nearly knee to knee with others, and around a table that is about 20 in circumference. Ladies room - haaa my wife waited 30 min long lines. For a city like Boston, and a class act like the Pops, it's an embarrassing location for enjoyment to match the music. Think of a large High School Gym with a stage. The balcony is ok only if you're in front row. Sad. read more

Went to the Boston Pops last night! Words cannot express how wonderful it was. The singers and the orchestra were just incredible! My favorite was when they sang the 12 days of Christmas. It was unique and fun. A standing ovation was needed after that song! It did happen! It is a must see! read more

I've been here several times for the symphony. I love the fact that this hall make great fundraising events here. Recently, I went to the Symphony for Science. But The Boston Symphony Orchestra is known for the Boston Pops. read more

Boston Symphony Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This has been on my Boston Bucket list since before I even knew I would ever move to Boston. Having grown up playing oboe and English horn in the band through college, I have always loved classical music of all kinds. I of course love all of the holiday songs so to be able to hear the Boston Pops perform them was something I had to do as soon as I had the chance. A friend of mine from Kansas was visiting and said he would love to attend with me. I snagged some great seats through their website about 2 weeks prior to the performance at a 30% discount, I imagine to sell the show out. And that they did! It's hard to tell how close you are to the stage when you're buying your seats and it wasn't until we were escorted to just 2 tables from the stage that I realized what a deal I got and how fantastic the experience was going to be! They played all of your favorite holiday songs such as Sleigh Ride, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, a sing-a-long medley, and even had two readings performed as well. There was a choir, all voluntary, that accompanied the symphony and they were absolutely AMAZING! One of the readings was of the story, The Christmas Carol, complete with pictures from the book. I've never seen a performance like it! But the show stopper really was The 12 Days of Christmas. Each "day of Christmas" was performed in a different style, i.e. 5th day of Christmas was performed as Beethoven's 5th and another was performed in the style of Bohemian Rhapsody. I loved it! Aside from the wonderful performance, this was also my first time at the Symphony Hall. It is gorgeous and was decorated beautifully for the season. Guests seated at the tables on the floor have the option to order drinks and food, while there or even ahead of time online. While we were packed in closely, it wasn't uncomfortable. We were able to easily find parking not far from the hall and it was nice to walk down the neighborhood streets all lit up as well. The Boston Pops Holiday performance truly is a MUST SEE by all who live here & visit. If you weren't in the holiday spirit before, I'd be hard pressed to know of anyone that wasn't after the performance. read more

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First off. If this was just the Orchestra and conductor: 5 Stars. The venue: 5 stars. But imagine trying to concentrate on classical music while sitting in a crowded bar. Miserable experience at the Boston Pops. Full disclosure. We're from out of town. We purchased tickets having heard about the amazing experience. Unfortunately we purchased tickets for the floor seating. I've never attended a symphony event that kept the doors open past the start time, and continued to serve drinks and food throughout the artists performance. I asked if this was going to continue during the entire performance and was told by a manager that this is a "Boston Pops tradition." It's a tradition to be rude to artists who have worked so hard to perform? And to the patrons who have paid to see them? The constant barrage of servers storming about and doors opening and closing took away from the music greatly. Does Dave really need that bottle of Sam Adams midway through Dvorak? Are this $5 M&Ms really a must have during Shostakovich? Would it really be so hard to keep table service to when the artists aren't performing? If you really feel obligated to see the Pops while in Boston, I'd recommend you take a balcony seat to the left of the stage (left being if you're facing the stage). read more

Home to the world-renowned Boston Symphony and Boston Pops, one of the most stunning symphony halls anywhere. Roman-Greco statues grace the symphony hall above the balconies, along with gold-esconced stage harkening back to a glorious, magnificent age of the arts. Acoustics are great and there isn't really a bad seat in the hall. Seats are older, as reviewers have mentioned. Have enjoyed Holiday Pops, Salute to Vienna, Beethoven Eroica and looking forward to Tchaikovsky Romeo & Juliet mid-February! Will Call lines can get insanely long, but luckily they move pretty quickly. Bar gets your drink quickly in case you'd like a glass or bubbly pre-concert. Student rush tickets available as well as $20 under 40 tickets. Orange and Green T stops nearby, as well as the #1 bus. read more

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Elegance, class & culture... nothing but history in this hall. ATMOSPHERE: A gorgeous historical hall... The seats are hard and uncomfortable, but ONLY because they are the original seats from 1900! MUSIC: The music sounds magical from every seat in the house. I prefer to be in the center, even if I'm sitting further back in the hall. Yet, it is more of a theater experience up front, where you can follow the faces of the musicians. THE DEAL: There are no "bad seats." The "cheap seats" in the balcony sound great, and offer Student & Senior Discounts too. read more

Symphony Hall and the BSO are great! I've been to two concerts at Symphony Hall so far this season. The hall itself is quite impressive...I love seeing the huge organ and the statues around the upper level. I can't wait to go back for a concert that includes the organ! The BSO is also a great orchestra. Hearing them play Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 was INCREDIBLE. The other concert that I went to this fall was supposed to include Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2, but unfortunately the pianist was ill. However, they replaced it with Brahms Symphony No. 3, so it was still a great concert...I really can't complain about that! So far, I've only sat in the orchestra level, once towards the middle in the back half and once toward the front but on the far right side. The sound was excellent from both locations. Sitting on the side toward the front was great for being able to watch the conductor. From the orchestra level, you can really only see the people who are in front, typically the conductor and the violins and cellos...for the rest of the instruments, you'll be guessing where the sound is coming from. read more

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I absolutely love coming to the Symphony Hall for concerts by BSO. Classical music is my kinda jam, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra brings amazing masterpieces from both contemporary artists and time-honored composers like Mozart, Schumann and the likes. The hall also brings in very well-known names such as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-yo Ma and Maurizio Pollini to perform. Although the view might be different from where you are seated, the music remains amazing with great acoustics in the hall. This place is really beautiful! Tall and decorated ceilings, vintage staircases and lots of statues around the building. Coming here for a show? Drop by an hour earlier and check out the numerous cool status, architectural designs and information boards around the building. If you're a fan of BSO and under 40, there's some tickets that goes for only $20! read more

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Centrally located in Boston which makes it more accessible- beautiful venue- mixed/diverse crowd of all ages. The music was incredible- the group is exceptionally talented. Would recommend to others! read more

Music is awesome. They have a "full" bar, which is nice. The staff however, is absolutely atrocious. Really rude doorman - like incomprehensibly douchey and power trippy. Bartenders that don't know how to make drinks. Just overall a great music experience but get in and in their words "get the f$&% out!" read more

We went to see comedian John Mulaney last night, and it was a great time. Opening for John Mulaney was Max Silvestri. We had parked at the Prudential Center, but appeared there were parking garages closer than the Pru. Whatever that was fine though. It was fun walking along Huntington Ave. Arriving the process for getting in was straightforward and easy with tickets. The staff was very polite and helpful with getting you in and directing you to the seats. I liked the seats in that they were comfortable, more comfortable than the ones at the Boston Opera House with a little space. Of course there is a shallow incline on the floor, and I had a tall person in front of me. This was only an issue because his head was blocking my view. This was a further issue because we were dead center 3/4 of the way back. I had to keep my head at 45° for most of the show, and change position to opposite of where ever my giant colleague was orienting his head, whichever way he slightly tilted. Other than this minor inconvenience, this is a beautiful space with the lighting, the statues, and the balcony seats looked awesome. The acoustics were grand, it was easy to hear comedians even when there was an occasional microphone issue. Oh further I did not realize that there was a bar available, that was a fantastic realization. Would definitely come back for a stand up. I'd also would like to see the orchestra someday, and I know it would sound beautiful here. read more

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The seating was great in how it was setup so everyone for the most part could see the stage pretty clearly. The acoustics superb! Save the extra 20+ dollars and enjoy a special one of a kind experience in going to their 10:30am rehearsals! It was so fun to see the director interact with everyone within the orchestra! He gets VERY into it, and love that he takes every bit of his time to perfect the piece they are working on! So be prepared for the fact that they will start and stop a bit at times. The emotions you can literally feel from not only the director but the music as well was pretty amazing indeed! My Wonderful husband and I had such a relaxing time....so relaxing we felt like going back to our hotel to take a nap afterwards! This was not a bore by any stretch, but there was just this calming affect the music had...just thinking about it makes me want to take another nap :) read more

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I went to see "The Music of Alan Menken" and it was phenomenal! Loved the venue as well! Definitely look forward to checking out more from the Boston Symphony Orchestra read more

Boston Symphony Hall is absolutely beautiful with a clean environment for anyone seeking a lovely evening out in the city of Boston. Whether it's a concert or a comedy show, Symphony Hall provides a magnificent atmosphere with friendly and helpful staff, along with plenty of restaurants, cafes, and activities surrounding it. It's the perfect location for tourists looking for something new and intriguing! read more

I went to see Margaret Cho her with my gays. For the record, as a straight woman, you cannot get into Margaret Cho unless you BYOG. I'm serious! I think I saw a sign. She was really funny. Funnier than I thought she'd be. But I'm not reviewing her. This is one of those places where every seat in the house has a good view, and that's the kind of place you want to see a show. And from what I hear, it's not all fag-hag comedy acts... they actually let the Symphony play here, which must me awesome since the acoustics are so great. Whatever you're into.. if it's playing at Symphony Hall you should go. And if it's Cho... don't forget to Bring Your Own Gays. read more

I used to be a huge band nerd in high school and middle school. I played the flute all throughout my grade school years and was involved in several symphony orchestras both at school and outside of school so I felt like I had a pretty good taste of what a great symphony orchestra was. After all, San Francisco has their own Symphony Orchestra and I've participated in the San Jose one once. I was about to find out why BSO was so famous. You think most orchestras are the same, well rehearsed and beautifully carried out. However, BSO was another level of refinement above that. The instruments were perfectly in tune, so much that you cannot even hear the difference between the woodwind instruments which is very difficult to do especially as a flutist. I really enjoyed watching BSO and I highly recommend it. read more

Probably my single favorite thing about moving back to Boston. The BSO is an amazing orchestra, and the hall itself is routinely thought of as a top 3 concert hall in the world acoustically. Soundwise, there really isn't a bad seat in this beautiful hall. Additionally, the BSO has this AMAZING discount for patrons under 40 -- if you type in the code "25under40" when you buy online, you can get two tickets for $25 dollars each on most BSO concerts, and you just show proof age when you pick up. There is convenience fee online, not sure if the same exists if you buy on the phone. The discount used to be $20 and was recently raised, but whatever. As far as I can tell the blackout dates are rare for this code, and you can the discount on even the super expensive seats (the seat I got for Yuja Wang was originally $123 -- discounted to $25!!) If I were just considering the concert space itself, I'd give this a 5 stars. But there are few things about symphony hall I wish were different, especially compared to concerts halls in other cities. Basically in classic cramped Boston fashion, the physical space outside the concert hall (ie the common areas, the lobby etc) are super tight and you're always in someone's lap. Additionally, the entire building is set so close to the street, and the traffic at Mass Ave and Huntington bottlenecks a lot, so car noise, esp if an ambulance if going by, can filter in on that side of the concert hall during quiet moments of a piece, which is super bad. It's never that prominent, but you can hear it when it happens. So I always try to get tickets on the side away from Mass Ave. I admit I am kind of jealous of NYC and DC, even SF, whose concert halls from the outside are more impressive on the outside, as they are kind of set apart/in a plaza, and there's more sense of prominence within the city as whole (think Lincoln Center or the Kennedy Center), not to mention, less of this more tangible problem of loud traffic noise. But again, the actual concert space here kicks those all to the curb. read more

The experience you have here is basically up to you. The venue is nice and small so pretty much all seats have a good view and listening experience. So the big variable is: do you like composer being performed or visiting performer? A little leg work will guarantee you are having a great time in downtown Boston. P.S. take the T or an app ride so you aren't stressed out! read more

Pros: Classy with a capital "C", vintage but just modern enough. Easy to get to location. Great lineup. Fair acoustics. Unbelievably good value on tickets. Cons: noisy seats. Balcony seats with less legroom than a South American airline. Had the chance to catch Yo Yo Ma here and managed to snag solid balcony seats for about $32 bucks each. For those not in the know..that is at the "are you kidding me" level of value. San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles...these are but a few of the places that will take you (and your wallet) to the HOUSE for the pleasure of enjoying their symphonies' company. Solid salute to the BSO for not ripping people off! The acoustics are a solid B, not B+ but not B-minus either. Yes, Phily and LA put it to shame but those places cost a gazillion dollars ok? The whole place has a 1960s updated to 1990s feel but is very clean, well-maintained, and actually, beautiful in its own way. Bars are well-organized and most importantly, BIG...for those thirsty intermissions. Music selection? Well, Yo Yo Ma playing dvorak is stunning. Using that to get people to listen to an hour and half of Bartok after the intermission though? A bit tricky... that being said. I'm not going to hold the music selection against the BSO, with an orchestra this well-conducted, you have to take some chances. So what are you waiting for? Contrary to popular belief, classical music is not just for your grandparents. Show off your culture-sense and take this opportunity to wear that blazer that's gathering dust in your closet! read more