I attended last night's 8pm- 10pm concert featuring Sibelius's Symphony No. 2 and Beethoven's No. 3 Eroica. The performance was delightful, and it was a pleasure to see a robust and diverse audience along with me supporting the UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra. I was surprised to learn that the orchestra was comprised of both full- time students and community members, and that these musicians, as I understood, were performing sophisticated pieces on two days of practice-per-week together and a pre- performance rehearsal on top of their normal schedules. I wonder how audiences, particularly those commuting or those generally averse to late evening engagements for whatever reason, would respond to more frequent performances earlier in the day over a longer time frame. After last night's performance, I thought I heard yells in the back for an encore after the rousing conclusion to the Beethoven piece. I certainly wouldn't have minded. read more

I unfortunately had a horrible encounter with Nadia Endara for one of the amazing UC Berkeley orchestra concerts. This review is solely representative of her extremely mean and condescending attitude, and not at all for the amazing quality of the performers and the event venue. :) I was late to the concert and told her I was very sorry and could wait until intermission to enter. Nadia's first words to me were "Well if you were a true friend, you would've come earlier". She then spent 5 minutes berating me for trying to scam her with a fake ticket (it was not fake) and still refused to let me into the venue despite showing her my confirmation and stealing my payment for the ticket. I was extremely patient with Nadia despite her disgusting demeanor. The most I told her off was something along the lines of "ok I understand, but I would appreciate if you would approach it in a nicer way". (she did not take that well at all) At the end of the day, Nadia's attitude was rude, off-putting, and downright mean. I was dumbfounded by how quickly she resorted to name-calling and berating a total stranger (and paying customer!). She could've just politely told me that it was too late to enter the venue, which I would've accepted, but she made snarky back-handed comments that were completely unnecessary. Nadia is a horrible representation of the UCBSO and Hertz Hall professional community! read more

Recently attended a touring Final Fantasy orchestra concert here (even if you don't play the video games I still recommend going to one of these concerts.....sure context helps but the musical pieces are still beautiful without it!!). Venue is alright. I agree with another reviewer in that the concert hall gets pretty humid. Had to take a breather (quite literally) during intermission and went outside for some fresh cool air. Also, not the biggest fan of the velvet chairs; might be a nit-pick as a material-texture thing, but with the room being a heat box I can't help but imagine how much sweat is embedded into the chairs here lol (sorry for the imagery). Ehh was leaning towards giving this place 3 stars but I'll give it 4 because of the great ease of finding parking that's within short walking distance (at least for evening shows). Not a venue that you should avoid at all costs, but there are still certain things that I want you to be mindful of! read more

Hertz Hall - Seat B9 (purdy close to the orchestra) - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Acoustic in the concert hall is pretty good. However, the overall concert going experience is not that great. If it's at full capacity, it can get very muggy and hot - they don't turn on cooling. Also, the seats are creaky and uncomfortable if you happen to be seated for a prolonged period of time. Definitely time for an upgrade / renovation. read more

Hertz Hall - Final Fantasy in concert - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

Hertz me now...or Hertz me never! As Bay Area auditoriums go, Hertz Hall is fairly under the radar given its semi-hidden bucolic location on the UC campus, but it has great acoustics for classical recitals, which frankly is the only reason I ever go. There are only 750 seats in the place, but the vaunted ceilings make for a clear sound. A couple of years back, I saw Kiwi baritone Jonathan Lemalu singing Mozart, Faure and cabaret songs from William Bolcom. Glorious. And this past Sunday, I was there to see my favorite singer, the extraordinary countertenor David Daniels, and he was in top form with his frequent accompanist Martin Katz - a program of Brahms, old English songs and his specialty, Handel arias. Mesmerizing and clear as a bell from my third row seat. During breaks, you can go outside and enjoy a nice view of the Campanile peeking through the trees. So get classy for a change, drop the bong and sit with the bluehair and sweater set to enjoy some mighty fine compositions. Culture with a capital K! read more

Hertz Hall - This photo is from the Cal Performances site. - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

This is the premiere music venue on the UC Berkeley campus for classical music: orchestra and chamber concerts and pipe organ recitals. It's unfortunate that the very fine tracker organ is underutilized for public recitals. read more

As a member of the audience: Not sure whether concert hall isn't good or performance wasn't good. I came here recently to hear a performance by Bronfman, who played Prokofiev's #8 and #9 piano sonatas. The sound he produced just wasn't very satisfying. Chairs are comfortable, but maybe acoustics aren't very good. As a performer: I've also performed here when I was student as a piano noon concert soloist back in Fall 2011, and I performed half a noon concert in Spring 2012. In Fall 2012 and Spring 2013, I performed as part of a trio and a duet, respectively. The piano was really good, and I really enjoyed it! In Spring 2014, I performed as part of UC Berkeley's Baroque Ensemble, playing the harpsichord. Cool experience too. read more

I was only familiar with Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley, so it was nice to learn that there is another music hall on campus where you can go to both free, and paid, concerts. Once you're inside the doors, you need to go upstairs in order to get to the main orchestra level. The upstairs balcony looks like it has ample seating and hopefully the acoustics are as good up there are they were in the main seating area. The lobby is nice and has restrooms and an elevator : ) I would definitely return to listen to another concert here. read more

I had the pleasure of watching and hearing the Berkeley University Symphony Orchestra perform in Hertz Hall this past Friday night. The concert was a welcome jolt of culture for me as someone who appreciates classical music but rarely gets to experience it in any form other than 102.1 KDFC. This Friday, the symphony's bold program commenced with Sibelius' "Tapiola," followed by the percussion-heavy "Cathedral Spires" by Berkeley's own Cindy Cox, and ended with a thrilling rendition of Rachmaninoff's "Symphonic Dances." Being in the beautiful music hall with its accoustically-designed wooden walls and dandylion velvet seats and witnessing the orchestra members on stage in their tuxedo's and black skirts made the whole evening feel quite sophisticated. While that formality can be one of the best aspects of the symphony, the conductor's enthusiasm engaged the audience who in turn thunderously cheered on the orchestra after each piece reminding us of that these events are meant to be fun and spirited, not stodgy and antiquated. While the hall itself is quite large, the concert felt very intimate as the seats were only about half full. Considering the quality of the music and the reasonability of the ticket prices ($4 Cal student/$8 Cal faculty, other students/$13 general admission), I was surprised more locals don't take advantage of these wonderful performances. For me, this was the perfect way to spend some time in between getting dinner and going out with friends for some late-night pints. read more

Great acoustics! Our chorus performs here twice a year. Only drawback is access to the middle of the seating; there is no center aisle so you have to pass about 15 seats to sit in the center. Large ornate organ is a bonus! read more

Hey, YELP-deleted my review of my favorite Hall in the East Bay bar none. Well, now that YELP-has become a corporate tool for a mega-million soon to be IPO'd prob...they don't want too many of my reviews tellin you the straight scoop-ola. This is perfect for small chamber groups to play. Beautiful wood panelling and wonderful ivory colored carpeting and lolling-no-gaging grassy knolls behind the Hall to enjoy the sunset. No food. Hide your bottle of water and go to the lobby for a swig. The water from the drinking fountain tasted verry metallic. http://music.berkeley.edu/noon.html CHECK it out and go BAREbear...on a how berzerkly indian summer day. And now you too can learn to know the pricey cost of beautiful Hertz sounds. My all time fave. read more

Do you remember how you felt in the '70s? Well, neither do I, as I was two when the clock struck midnight and it was officially the '80s--although I would argue the '80s began in the '70s when Debbie Harry came on the scene, but I digress, as usual. Even if you don't remember how you felt in the '70s, and even if you don't believe in reincarnation and so may not have existed in the '70s, come to a concert at Hertz Concert Hall in Hertz Hall at UC Berkeley, and you'll remember exactly what you felt like or know exactly what you would have felt like in the '70s. Concerts. Performances. Wood paneling. Wood paneling. Busts and statuary. No topiary. Wood paneling. Yellow seating. Wearing formal clothing even when the occasion didn't call for it, because the occasion always called for it. Wood paneling. This review is officially dedicated to Traci J., who scored a PR in the Boston Marathon despite the craziness and who is generally a rockstar for many reasons. One of them is that she got me to come to Berkeley on a Saturday! So even though it was triply or even quadruply like I was at work, it felt care-free and wonderful. We found a log cabin, espied through big windows two separate celebratory dinners, and enjoyed the stylings of Gamelan Sari Raras. Gamelan reminds me of the '70s too, for some reason. It's neat. It will even make you forget the wood paneling, or maybe it will help you understand it. The place is way past its prime, but that's all right. Would you rather experience gamelan in some ridiculous glassy auditorium? Probably not. read more

A jewel box of a venue ! It was amazing luck that I easily found parking for Cal's Fall Free for All Day. The weather was perfect, the paths well-marked for locations and show times. I crept in a little late for the Cypress String Quartet performance, and was so glad I did. The performance was delightful, the artists very personable. The acoustics of the room is a marvel. But best of all, the seats are a wonderful fit for the human-bottom, with bliss-inducing leg room! read more

Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra celebrated their 50 year anniversary with a series of concerts at Hertz Concert Hall this weekend. Liked: * intimate concert hall, small enough that every seat has a good view of the stage * relatively comfortable seats with cushy padding * good acoustics Didn't Like: - very dark, not enough lights at night in surrounding area read more

Hertz Hall is a tiny little treasure. It's more intimate and architecturally stunning than any of the competing halls in the area (Zellerbach, Davies, Herbst), and you have to work to find a bad seat in the house. Take the time to scan the details of the all-wood interior -- it's really beautiful and has the double effect of enhancing the acoustical experience. Who plays here? Well, the bulk of the Cal Performances chamber music series, the university orchestra, and the occasional recital. Well worth the visit if you have the chance... read more

As an alumna of UC Berkeley's music department, Hertz Hall is like a second home to me. As a student, I would be in Hertz at least 3-5 times a week for various rehearsals, concerts (both as a performer and a spectator), auditions, classes, etc. I even graduated from the department on that very stage. Wonderful memories! Now that I'm a big girl with a college degree, I still find myself back at Hertz for auditions, rehearsals when I'm needed as a ringer or soloist, and as an audience member for their numerous concerts. The hall is beautiful and has great acoustics. The organ is HUGE, seats are comfy, and the stage was just renovated in 2010. The concerts here range from talented students to professionals. Sometimes Cal Performances recitals will be held in Hertz (instead of Zellerbach), which gives such a nice and intimate vibe. read more

During the school year, there are free noon concerts every Wednesday, well you guessed it, from noon to one. And during the spring semester, there are free noon concerts on Friday as well. But yeah, amazing events. The University Symphony, Baroque Ensemble, Gospel Chorus, University Chorus, etc etc etc play. A bunch of students audition to get spots for the noon concerts as well, so there's a wide range of concerts from piano to jazz to contemporary stuff. You can purchase evening tickets at Cal Perfs, and they cost 4/8/12 depending on if you are a UCB student, senior/staff/student, or just for general admission. You can check the events calendar at http://music.berkeley.edu to see the semester's schedule! read more

Hertz Hall - Inside Hertz Hall - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

I am UCB allumni, I was here last month. the concert was great. I loved the organization of the whole program. everything went perfect. thanks read more

I love the repertoire of performers that come to Hertz Hall but I really dislike the venue. There's no central aisle so if you're sitting in there middle seats you're trapped in there. And the seats are squeezed together. But that's a minor inconvenience. The acoustics are poor. I've been in much larger venues where the sound of singers' voices or individual musicians playing carries distinctly to the back without amplification. Yet at Hertz the sounds are so muddy. Then there's the fact that the lights are random. I haven't been to a performance here yet where, as is normal at most other venues, the lights are dimmed when the performers come onstage and the lights come up when they leave the stage. Here they are dimmed at random times at random levels or not dimmed at all. I'll still keep coming because I would hate to miss out on the cultural offerings but this hall does not do the performers a service, IMO. read more