Glad to have had the chance to attend the season opening concert of the Pasadena Symphony and POPS series at the beautiful Ambassador Auditorium. Today's orchestral performance was conducted by the talented Brett Mitchell, with Orion Weiss on piano performing the Ravel piece -- absolutely wonderful. I also really enjoyed Jim Self's composition, which added a nice touch to the program. The main piece of the evening was Symphonie Fantastique by the young French composer Berlioz. It was a long performance, but truly fantastic, living up to its name. This was our first time attending a concert here, and the experience was amazing from start to finish -- great acoustics, comfortable seating, and an inspiring atmosphere. Can't wait to come back for more! read more

The Ambassador Auditorium - Orchestra - Performing Arts Near Me - Pasadena, California

Scouting locations for event. Staff we met with was very friendly and accommodating with all of our questions. Beautiful retro feeling in the lobby area. Bathrooms are accessible by staircases. There is a very small, two person elevator available for ADA access. Nice dressing rooms. Very large stage to accommodate performers and musicians. View of stage is great and there isn't a bad seat in the house. Exterior of venue is also very retro in the architecture and landscaping and water fountain designs. Great photo ops. Parking is challenging. There are a few ADA spots. There are stairs to enter venue via Lobby I can't remember if there was a wheelchair ramp. Overall very nice venue. read more

The Theater: The courtyard is so peaceful and nice with the fountain. 2 levels theater, mid size. Good sound effects. Restrooms are in the basement and 2nd floor. Very well maintained. The Parking: underground parking below the sport field, a few minutes walk to the theater. There are street parking (free) but challenging to find a spot. read more

See all

I am glad that I spent quality time with my family at Pasadena Ambassador Auditorium. I attended Beethoven Violin Concerto. The conductor was François López -Ferrer and the Violinist was Francisco Fullana. The performance was such a unique, magical and memorable experience. The Auditorium is located on the Ambassador College campus.The venue is very glamorous and perfectly manicured. I loved the huge Chandelier that was dangling in the center of the foyer. You can purchase the ticket either online or by phone. For the parking, prepaid parking ticket is available and for $10 which is very convenient. The Concert Program book is offered digitally as well as in a hard copy. They offer refreshment starting two hours before the concert and during the intermission. You can pre-order your drink or food in advance and pick them up during the intermission. The staff and the volunteers were very organized and very friendly. It was such a magnificent night. I am interested in all the coming events and for sure I will come here frequently. read more

See all

400 stars if I could. I didn't know that this place even existed. It's just incredible how I am discovering the city. Every area has its location for high art. This place ia no diffrent . Ambassador Auditorium is just incredible. The exterior is grand it has two small bodies of water that grace the entrance. The pillars make it grand and the building will still be prominent for years to come. Inside was stately - a little dated- lots of wood and brass but I didn't care, the atmosphere made sense somehow. As I and my husband went to see the concert it focused on a violinist and a hugely popular conductor. It amazed me that such a smaller concert hall or auditorium could create such meaning and fostering of the high arts. I dressed somewhat formally - my cashmere jacket, slacks, a pressed T-shirt, and loafers. My husband wore a formal-fitting sweater and dress shoes. We dressed casually and stylishly as we were going to a place like this but everyone else there was casual so the dress code was easy and relaxed. I LOVE PLACES LIKE THIS. I CAN'T WAIT TO RETURN. read more

As a native of Pasadena, CA, it came as a surprise to me that my recent visit to the Ambassador Auditorium was my first, and I never had the opportunity to visit sooner. The auditorium is gorgeous, it looks like a miniature Dorthy Chandler Pavilion with a large beautiful chandelier in the foyer. The seats are velvet, plush and comfortable, and the acoustics are wonderful. The building is beautiful. We attended a Colburn concert and were we amazed when we listened to Bruckner's Symphony No. 4. The piece was so energetic and the musicians executed an outstanding performance. To really appreciate the depth and intricacy of this piece I am so glad I got to see the orchestra live. I would attend a concert and listen to this particular Symphony all over again if I could, it was that good and engaging to listen to and watch the performance! I will keep my eyes out for more Ambassador events since I am in Pasadena quite a bit and this location is convenient for me. There are many options for parking in adjacent lots. We parked at the high school lot just in front of the building since it was a weekend. read more

It's a great venue, a beautiful hall. Symphonies are in the building from September to May, roughly. The Distinguished Speaker Series is also held here, as well as so much more. There's always something going on. If you're going to see an event here anticipate parking being tricky. It's Pasadena, it's tricky everywhere, don't let it ruin your evening. The chandelier in the lobby is totally picturesque. The bathrooms are on the bottom floor, the Lower Lounge, but if stairs aren't easy for you don't worry, there's an elevator on the north side of the lobby. If you are in a wheelchair, or again stairs aren't easy for you, there is a ramp on the south side of the building. For most events no food or drink is allowed inside so there are trash cans outside the lobby doors if you have anything to throw away. If you haven't seen a show here, I recommend it. It's a really gorgeous space! read more

What beautiful venue for music, the acoustics are superb, with a reputation as being the "Carnegie Hall of the West" my friend and I were not disappointed. We were treated to performances by the Colburn Orchestra of compositions by Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. Parking although lacking in sufficient handicapped spaces was a short walk from the adjacent well-lit parking structure. Considering the age of the building and grounds, all were extremely well-maintained. Pride and reverence for its magnificent past was evident everywhere. I look forward to attending many more performances here. read more

It's a beautiful place to attend a classical concert. And a certain Dutch saxophonist with whom I share the honor of providing one of my nephews with a middle name says that the acoustics are dry, which is apparently good for classical music. I don't know enough to know enough about that, but I believe him because the sound is very good, even to my untrained ear(s). My parents and my cousin remember that I attended a guitar concert here in the late '80s or early '90s, and although I remember where we ate afterward (https://www.yelp.com/biz/russells-pasadena-2), I don't remember that concert. So how am I writing this review? Well, that same cousin, who was twelve or thirteen at the time we attended that concert, recently conducted a concert at the Ambassador. Growing up, huh? He was amazing. The orchestra was amazing. With all this amazingness going around, why only three stars? Logistics. The on-site staff aren't very good at their jobs. One would assume that there would be some rhyme or reason to providing guest services at a musical auditorium, but it felt as if the ushers and other staff members who work here had just shown up and seen the place for the first time fifteen minutes before their shifts started. Staff members were yelling at people to take their seats. They weren't yelling because they were angry (although they might have been); they were yelling to make themselves heard. A PA system might be a good thing to have. Once people entered the auditorium, the ushers weren't very helpful. They walked with people, but they didn't seem to have any idea which rows and seats were where. And throughout the performance itself, late-arriving concertgoers were trying to figure out where their seats were because the ushers didn't do (or didn't know how to do) their jobs, which is to efficiently and quietly seat people as quickly as possible in order to disrupt the concert as little as possible. The parking situation is also problematic, and it will only get worse when the nearby construction has finished and thousands of new people move into the neighborhood. Speaking of nearby construction, those new buildings really do ruin the serenity and beauty of the setting. The outside of the auditorium itself reminds me A LOT of the Foley Building (where I worked for four years) on LMU's campus, including the fountain, but the Ambassador is more beautiful, and its fountain and entire water element is more impressive, including the sculpture. To recap: Great place to attend a concert, with excellent sound. Lovely setting that is being made worse by added (and unneeded) density. Poorly trained staff and iffy parking. Should you see a concert here? Yes! But be sure to arrive early so that you have enough to find your seat on your own. read more

See all

Honestly, I wanted to cry when I saw how beautiful this theater was. Let me preface this statement: I came here for a high school musical. I went to public school and we did NOT have such a beautiful venue to perform in so I was definitely envious. The chandelier is absolutely gorgeous and the stage is huge! The only cons were that your had to go all the way to the bottom to get the restrooms and the seats were tiny. Other than that, I hope the kids who use this theater appreciate it because it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. read more

This is such a beautiful venue that I had no idea existed in Pasadena, pretty much across Norton Simon Museum. Thanks to Lark organizers, I attended Anoush Opera and loved it. Thank you! read more

Came here for a performance of The Colburn Orchestra. The auditorium is a wonderful venue. It resembles a miniature Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Chandeliers, granite accents, 30 foot tall fountain, reflecting pool, glass windows throughout. It's small for a concert hall, which means every seat is a good seat. Great acoustics: you could hear the softest of notes with clarity. It known as "The Carnegie Hall of the West." A great feature is that the parking lot is only 100 feet from the entrance! So ladies don't worry about wearing those 4" heels. read more

The Ambassador Auditorium - Performing Arts Near Me - Pasadena, California

What a lovely concert hall! I'd never ben before I went to hear the Pasadena symphony last night. Louds were loud, and even more exciting is that softs were soft. The hall itself is beautiful, too. Who knew this place even existed?! Wish there were more performances happening here, like, every night. read more

What an incredible setting. We went to the Pasadena Symphony performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons at the Ambassador Auditorium. The performance was, as expected, incredible. But, we had never been to the Ambassador and found it to be a wonderful gem hidden next to the High School in Pasadena. They have made the best of the grounds and have a lovely before concert tent serving beverages and light fare. It was a chilly night and space heaters provided warmth. It appeared that many people gathered there before the performance to meet friends. The interior of the building was also a treat with beautiful architecture, comfortable seats, and fabulous acoustics. We were seated three aisles from the stage, closer that I usually like, but the sound was perfect. Parking is available in the parking garage down the street or the open lot on Green Street. read more