When the kids were younger I remember taking them to a "my first ballet" at this location. They offer fantastic atmosphere at this iconic theater. There truly are no bad seats in this venue. Today we enjoyed the Nutcracker! The venue was clean and all dolled up for the holidays! The perfect setting to be delighted my sugar plum fairies! What made for an especially fun afternoon is that we were able to take a stroll around Christmas in the park as well! Perfect little afternoon! read more

Symphony San Jose - Bravo! - Performing Arts Near Me - San Jose, California

We went to the symphony to see the Nutcracker. When you walk in,it feels like a old time theater. It was decorated for the holidays. The first place we went to was to get a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie. I ve seen many productions of this classic ballet. This was a modern reimagining of the classic with San Jose as the backdrop. Same great music just slightly different dancing. If you're expecting the classic ballet,this is not for you. But I want to stress that this performance will definitely keep your kids attention. Definitely worth the money read more

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My wife and I went to the Symphony San Jose Holiday Spectacular at the California Theatre Sunday afternoon. We loved the Symphony San Jose Chorale, the New Ballet and the Cantabelle Youth Singers of San Jose. The conductor was Elena Sharkova. She was fabulous. Parking was easy, bathrooms were accessible, the staff was friendly and helpful. Members of the audience were cheerful and the atmosphere was perfect for the holiday season The music and dancing were wonderful but the beautifully restored theatre deserves close to equal billing. read more

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Want a night out with orchestral classical music but SF Symphony is too far away? Wait no more and check out Symphony San Jose which holds concerts in California Theatre in SJ downtown! I went to the recent concert with Jon Nakamatsu on the piano performing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue (2nd half). It was a riveting performance by the pianist, who also played Copland's concerto in the first half (a great show as well but not my cup of tea). The orchestra, conducted by Elinor Rufeizen was a joy to see with passionate playing (my first time seeing her perform!), though there were small hiccups here and there. read more

The 1-hr production of "My First Nutcracker" was wonderful! All 3 of my kids ages (6), (4) and (3) loved the production and sat enthralled throughout. The skill level of the dancers was superb and my husband and I were so pleasantly surprised that there was an orchestra accompanying the ballet! The lobby was beautifully decorated and festive, the theater is beautiful and it felt fancy and special. We were delighted with the whole experience! read more

My kids (8 and 11) loooooved our experience at the Halloween concert. We even attended the "Music Notes" presentation an hour before the concert, so the whole event was approx 3 hours and my kids hung onto every single second of it. The venue was beautiful, music was exhilarating, conductor was entertaining, and the costume contest was fun. We will be back to attend more concerts!! read more

SJ Symphony Spooktacular program was exactly that!!! The orchestra is always superb but this concert had the benefit of Peter Jaffe as conductor. Not only is it a pleasure to watch him as a conductor but his creativity re his costumes and knowledge and humor in describing each piece added tremendously to the evening. I first saw him when he conducted the children's concerts and watched his effect on my class and the entire young audience. They loved him and he was able to keep them totally engaged. Not an easy thing. I hope SJ Symphony will bring him back annually. Elaine G. read more

Hollywood Spectacular with guest conductor, Peter Jaffe, was superb! In addition to being a fun conductor, his humorous, warm interaction with the audience was a nice surprise! Jesus' Murillo was an amazing addition and added a wonderful treat. Venue is charming, staff is always friendly, and enjoyed the audience participation, read more

I went to the Hollywood spectacular concert on March 29. The concert was amazing the music mesmerizing. The conductor Peter Jaffe was so funny and engaging. I particularly liked the part where he involve the audience. The baritone Jesus was amazing. I would definitely go back if they did another Hollywood spectacular. read more

I loved every musical moment of Hollywood Spectacular!!! Peter Jaffe was superb! In addition to being a marvelous conductor, his humorous, warm interaction with the audience was wonderful! Jesus' Murillo was sheer delight and added a perfect plus to a perfect symphonic performance. Can't wait for next time at this treasure of a venue! read more

Automatic 5 stars!!!, for providing free concerts to the downtown community - and having them outdoors to allow people to spread out during covid - And free water bottles too for the hot summer day. read more

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I was astounded at the expertise and quality of your symphony. The Firebird under the baton of Carlos Vieu was so very beautifully played. It was the most spectacular presentation of the piece I've heard in a live performance. MEMORABLE! I came from Orange County and have heard many prominent orchestras. Your's rates among the best! read more

The orchestra was fabulous - which is important because they ARE Symphony Silicon Valley. Great individual solos and tight ensemble playing throughout. I love that era (Gershwin et al) and so enjoyed the music. Never had heard the Copland - good to hear in that context - works composed w/in 4 years of each other! Nakamatsu is above and beyond - his concerti were great but what really showcased his musicianship was the encore - I have never had that Joplin played to me that way and it was - can't find words - telling a story, engaging - Nakamatsu has his chops under control such that he can create whatever sounds he wants. Disclaimer - I am a fellow orchestral musician, have played (and am still playing) with probably 2/3 of the people on that stage often over many years. So it was a very friendly evening for me. read more

Beautiful performance, amazing conductor and wonderful venue. It's been years since we'd been to the symphony and we will not let that happen again! read more

The California Theatre is a magical place, a bit of a maze to an elderly lady like myself, but there are plenty of helpful staff to show you the way and even an attendant in the elevator who can look at your ticket and tell you which floor to exit at. Four of the pieces on the program were old favorites of mine and it was lovely to watch them being played by such a wonderful orchestra. The fourth piece was new and our Argentinian conductor charmingly coached the audience in a handicapping accompaniment which made a fun piece even more fun. A wonderful evening! read more

The Christmas Spectacular was just that: Great music, wonderful dancing and full of the joy of Christmas. This is going to be a yearly ritual from now on. read more

Fantastic Holiday Spectacular! The music was fun and festive, and the conductor was incredible! She is very accomplished and gave great background stories and facts about the music, and she created a fun and upbeat atmosphere. Loved it! read more

Fantastic orchestra and chorale! We had a wonderful opportunity to take our little one to the CineConcerts series at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts this October 2017, featuring the third Harry Potter film: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The full film plays on a screen spanning the width of the stage to musical scores composed by John Williams. With conductor Jeffrey Schindler at the helm, each film piece is performed by a large ensemble, consisting of an 86-piece orchestra and a 51-person chorale in sync to the movie projected above them. Fun and educational experience to share with our 6 year old to see what a symphony entails. She remained fully engaged and in awe of the large production involved for the symphony's 3 hour duration. We look forward to seeing the Symphony Silicon Valley again for the fourth Harry Potter CineConcerts series coming in April 2018. read more

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I loved my first ever San Jose Symphony Chorale performance at the California Theater! And I'm going to make this my annual tradition to visit with friends and family during Christmas time. I had booked orchestra seats under the balcony section, and the acoustics did not disappoint! read more

Symphony San Jose - a concert in a large auditorium - Performing Arts Near Me - San Jose, California

Very enjoyable program on Opening Night. Great pianist and very good orchestra. Looking forward to the coming concerts.

Great first experience with friends at the California Theater. New to the area, was not sure what to expect. Was stunned at the orchestra - marvelous. All the staff was great. Conductor great to watch. Very impressed. Will be back. Best entertainment bargain in San Jose. read more

I couldn't have imagined a better experience than I had on October 5th for the Jazz Age concert. The program was excellent (Gershwin, Copland and Ravel) and the musicians and conductor were incredible. I particularly enjoyed the solo performances (too many to mention), as well as Jon Nakamatsu's stellar performance on piano. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, and I can't wait for the next one! Thank you to all involved. read more

You should check out this symphony's programing. Besides more traditional concerts they also perform sound tracks while showing movies on a huge high quality screen at the Center for Performing Arts in downtown San Jose, CA. We have seen the three Lord of the Rings movies, all Harry Potter movies,, as well as others. The sound is so much better than what you hear in a movie theater and it is so cool to watch the musicians. Oh, and unlike other types of concerts, the conductors usually encourage to cheer and applaud at appropriate places in the movies. For EVERY movie we have seen, people stay until the credits are finished in order to hear all the music because they are enjoying it so much. We like to sit in the balcony because you can see everything, the sound is incredible up there, but more importantly, you can see the digital device scrolling the score for the conductor. This is how the conductor knows when the orchestra should start playing, how fast (the tempo) that should be, and when to pause and wait for the next orchestral entry. It is really fascinating. We have also sat in the orchestra section on the first floor and you can see all the musicians, are closer to them, but you don't really see the score. read more

I saw their Joe Hisaishi Studio Ghibli performance on Memorial Day. The performance was pretty inspiring and the orchestra was great in making Joe proud. :') The performers seem to really enjoy their music and art. If you look into their bio's, you'll find many of them are world trekkers with impressive musical backgrounds and education. The videographer for the concert was amazing - with so much going on onstage, it helped to have someone zoom in on the action and highlight/showcase the talent. Something that would be nice would be if they had a merchandise table with recordings/DVD. According to their website, it appears all performers are all part of a union, so I understand that may present complications. But it'd be really nice to get posters at least! For the San Jose Center, it's a quaint venue in the middle of a peaceful downtown San Jose. I would recommend being center stage a few rows away for optimal sound and visual. In the case of a grand piano being up and center, being on the right may result in obstructed vision. read more

A Wonderful evening full of song on stage and from the audience! If this doesn't get you in the mood for the season......Should be an annual affair! The California Theatre is a wonderful venue, no bad seats and lots of sound! Merry Christmas for sure! read more

What a fun experience! My friend invited me to join her for the opening concert of Romeo and Juliet and Sibelius 5. Parking was about 15$ and the tickets were $50 for back row seats, but the California theater was small enough that the sound carried well. If you're looking for a classy outing with friends or family this is a great option. (Consider becoming familiar with the music playing before you go). read more

We had Groupon tickets for the orchestra section- sat in Row G on the aisle. Loved the seats. The theater is very beautiful, and was built in 1927. It was the finest theater in California when it opened- and it has been restored in a glorious way. Apparently the pipe organs have been restored too, and I'd love to go back and hear those. This review is for the Kurt Weill -Berlin Paris NY show. First, Let me say how much I love Weill's early work. I'm a huge fan of The Threepenny Opera (and of the Beggar's Opera, by Gay). That instrumental part was probably my favorite, and also the encore in which the Soprano sang Mac the Knife. I have never heard the Ballad of Mac the Knife sung better- and performing it in English French and German (working backwards, through Kurt's homelands) was a magnificent touch. I loved the accordion with the soprano also, and when the conductor played the piano for It Never Was You. The conductor (James Holmes) was marvelous on the piano. I also was touched by the history of Weill and his music which the conductor imparted to the audience as we made our way through the program. I learned things about Weill I did not know. I was less familiar with the later portions of the program, especially the work Weill did in America, so those musical numbers were very interesting. I thought all the singers were very good especially the soprano (Lisa Vroman) I am not as fond of the Seven Deadly Sins as I am of the Threepenny Opera- but this company certainly did that section justice. The staging was minimalist, and yet highly effective. This show was my first time at the California theater and the symphony in San Jose (I used to go to Davies Hall), but it won't be my last. Based on the excellence of what we saw I'm going to try to get tickets to Verdi's Requiem, another favorite piece of mine. Thank you SSV for a marvelous day of music. I can honestly say I have rarely enjoyed my time at the symphony as much as I did today. read more

Symphony Silicon Valley never disappoints! I am impressed with the wide variety of composers, artists, and genres they showcase every season. Fine music coupled with first class hospitality as soon as you enter the doors. read more

So fun seeing the Christmas in the Californias performanc. Great way to celebrate the holidays!

I have never been disappointed going to Symphony Silicon Valley. I have always loved classical music and when I discovered that we had a symphony in San Jose I couldn't resist getting a subscription, that was at least three years ago and I doubt I will ever stop going. The diversity of music is incredible, and while I don't enjoy the choral performances quite as much, I havn't been to a bad performance yet. Each performance is quite different as they have guest conductors only, but all of them are good and some, like Tatsuya Shimono are amazing. Just today I attended Tchaikovsky: A Celebration and it was the best yet. I love Tchaikovsky's piano concerto #1 and this was my first chance to hear it live and the 4th symphony was inspiring as well, as was the Slavonic March that began the whole performance. Over the years I have heard Mahler, Beethoven, Mozart, and many more I can't even remember, and I have enjoyed it all. If you love Classical music I don't think you can do much better, and if you are in the South Bay it sure beats going up to San Francisco (to be honest, I have not been to Davies symphony hall yet, but that is part of my point, as much as I love classical, going up to the city is a lot of effort when you have great music right here). read more

I came here to watch and listen to The Chamber of Secrets in The Harry Potter Film Concert series. When I arrived, I felt like I was on the Hogwarts campus as I was watching "students" walking by with their Hogwarts gowns and I'm pretty sure I seen Hedwig a couple of times. To see so many age groups supporting the symphony, It was impressive. When the movie was ready to begin, the conductor - Jeffrey Schindler with his Slytherin tie on, was very energetic and encouraged the audience to clap, boo and not be shy about the movie & its characters. We watched the movie on a big screen then the symphony started playing and it was incredible. To listen to the Harry Potter soundtrack live with the symphony in clear perfection, loud with all its talented musicians really was incredible - It brought a tear to my eye. If you love Harry Potter as much as I do and have an appreciation for the symphony. You really should go. I really do mean it when I say it was truly.. a magical experience. read more

Symphony San Jose - Symphony Silicon Valley - Performing Arts Near Me - San Jose, California

This review is for SSV's Target Summer Pops series: Finally! Free outdoor orchestral music in SJ! I can't stand the washed-up cover bands that frequent most of the valley's Music in the Park venues, so I was excited when Symphony Silicon Valley and Target announced this collaboration in 2009. Apparently, I was not the only excited person. Right from the beginning, these concerts have been packed!! If you want to be able to see the performers, arrive early. There is also the added danger of being in the dreaded Toddler Zone if you arrive too late. I love small kids, but not so much when I'm trying to listen to music... That being said, these events are totally family-friendly. They feature lots of accessible music (movie themes, recognizable classical pieces, big band...), free ice cream nights, and grassy areas where kids can play waaayyy in the back. Bring: -A chair -A picnic (wine is permitted!) -A sweater SSV is a professional union orchestra, and a solid organization. So, you'll hear some fairly high-quality music making. read more

Ok, I just have to say I felt "fancy" going to the symphony. A friend decided to take me on an adventure and part of it was going to the symphony. I have to say I am not much of a "classical" or relaxing type of music person, but I wanted to check this out. The location is very convenient, downtown SJ. There are several parking structures near the location. The people working the event are very nice, except when you bring in a drink to an area where you are not supposed to...then they get on your case. Other that that, during the intermission they bake cookies, they also have wine and champagne. The price is a little on the high side. People are not super dressed up, so don't feel obligated to pull out the ball gown and tux, a nice dress will do. read more

Just saw Raiders of the Lost Ark in Concert... FANTASTIC. Excellent performance of John Williams score by the symphony. Highly recommended... For the entire family. read more

To be fair, this is based on one performance and a bit of intuition. On the basis of that performance, would I go to hear Symphony Silicon Valley again? Yes, if the program was good, I'd really like to give them another shot. If the program was of no interest, I don't think the Symphony would sell me through force of performance alone. The California Theatre was a really nice venue. We had mid-range tickets I selected in the mezzanine and the sight was good and acoustics were terrific except the lower notes from the double bass, which disappeared. A great view, comfortable seats, good looking theater. You can check out their interactive seating plan at http://www.symphonysiliconvalley.org/tickets.php?pagecontID=16#chart: just roll over the spots and it will show you the view from many sections. Nice feature. -- and if you want to avoid a handling fee, buy your tickets in person at the Symphony's office downtown. Overall, we had a good night -- the program was the problem probably more than the Symphony itself. read more

Got tickets for the Lord of the Rings trilogy symphony. First symphony I've ever been to! Amazing performances. I initially had seats on the balcony, 4th row to the side which were.. okay. Since we were elevated and pretty far away, we were able to enjoy seeing every instrument being played, but I could only really tell that I was listening to a live symphony when the brass instruments were being played. We were able to move more toward the center after the showing had started since the performance was not sold out, and the sound quality improved greatly. I highly recommend getting seats more toward the center or if you are lucky and nobody is sitting next to you, definitely move in. I was able to sit in the orchestra seats, 10th row for the Return of the King showing and sitting in the orchestra area made a HUGE difference. I was able to really enjoy watching the performers and the sound quality was fantastic (of course, the closer the better, except for being in the front rows :P). My issue was that during the Return of the King showing, some audience members would clap and cheer during parts of the movie that were climactic (battles being won, epic lines in the movie, etc.) WHILE the symphony was playing. I thought this was so rude to the conductor, performers, and the other audience members that were trying to hear the symphony! There were definitely heads shaking in disapproval in the rows in front of me when people started clapping, so it seemed like my party was not the only ones bothered by it. Don't get me wrong, I love the movies, but I paid for these tickets to enjoy the symphony and watching the movies was a bonus as the songs would have context. I didn't pay so much to watch a movie with a bunch of people that during epic scenes (which would typically be concurrent with an epic song) would drown out the music with clapping! I felt like all of the clapping and cheering really took from symphony experience and ruined the songs that were being played. If all symphonies are like that, I would not attend another one and instead would enjoy soundtracks uninterrupted at home. I sent an email to Symphony Silicon Valley explaining my experience and that while the performance was wonderful, I suggested for future performances, perhaps an announcement or something that would ask the audience to save their applause for the end would prevent the same thing happening to other people. It's been 2 weeks and Symphony Silicon Valley did not even send a response back. While I don't expect my suggestions to necessarily be taken, I think it is very poor customer service that my email was not even acknowledged. TL;DR Conductor and performers were fantastic. Audience members marred the experience. Emailed Symphony Silicon Valley, no response or acknowledgement = bad customer service. read more

I love the Symphony Silicon Valley. I attended their Godfather music performance accompanied by the movie and it was magical. I've been a fan of this Symphony for years. I truly miss the Summer Pops series where they play music at San Jose State U. sponsored by Target and Applied Materials, etc... They had weekly themes such as opera music (with opera singers), Latin music, Pop, Movie music, etc.. They made summers memorable and were such family friendly events. I also applaud the Artspark program where 4th graders from local public schools are bused to their one hour performance for free. The kids LOVE it. For most, it's the first time they've ever seen a live symphonic performance and they are in awe of seeing all of the musicians and instruments. Also, credits to Mr. Peter Jaffe who explains the rhythm and math to the students with great humor enhancing the experience of the music. This symphony contributes so much to the community - it truly deserves our support. read more

Magical experience through and through. I ordered tickets for the Harry Potter concert and immediately realized that the tickets I purchased were for the wrong day. I emailed their customer service and immediately heard back. There's an extra fee per ticket for switching from one showtime to another, so I wouldn't recommend anyone doing this, but I was super relieved that I was allowed to do this. The show/movie itself was pure magic. I'll definitely be back again for more shows. read more

Phenomenal performance!!!! Breathtaking performance!!!!! Most amazing symphony I have attended! Bonus performance Nobllis Piano Trio was beyond perfection!!!! Pianist was more than incredible!!!! Thank you Mr. Bob Weil for your 48th season performance!! You are amazing!!!!! read more

I perform frequently with Symphony Silicon Valley. The orchestra has grown artistically since its founding and puts on exciting concerts. Since there is no music director it's a different game every time. The best conductors produce really exciting concerts. Indifferent conductors produce indifferent concerts. The orchestra gets better every year and includes many players who sub frequently in the big orchestras in SF. The principal players are the best freeway phil players around. Where you sit makes a huge difference in this hall. The seats in the orchestra not below the balcony are best and the music sounds live and rich. Farther back on either the main floor or the balcony tends to sound dry and distant. The symphony also plays for the ballet and there is now a very fun summer concert series at SJSU. Last year there were all John Williams and an all Beatles concert. These are free outdoor concerts. read more