Minnesota Orchestra

Beautiful facility. The layout is very comfortable with many accessible bathrooms. The sound is amazing. With every seat a winner (but I would recommend sitting in the middle rows on the floor). The price is extremely reasonable for 2026.

The Minnesota Orchestra is phenomenal! Every players is so gifted! I am a priority musician and can tell you I have the utmost respect for people that have perfected their trade and their instrument joining their skills and keeping up with techniques. I went some months ago and saw Back to the Future and MO played the sound track. This time my mom, nephew and I saw the Empire Strikes Back. If I were to leave some criticism & feedback it would be for the designers of the lounge. I think it was originally setup in a way to look more elegant. But when you have a lot of people and they all come out for snacks at intermission its difficult to navigate. They have tried hard to create lots of bars & counters for people to buy drinks 🍸 & desserts but its still a bit much. Lines often snake around in odd directions. 🤔 The bathroom lines are so long. I would recommend larger bathrooms even for men. One last comment, the Orchestra was a little too loud for the movie. Some parts we missed what the actors said. Not sure if its the acoustics of sitting on the lower level vs up higher. I dunno.

We have a world-class orchestra. It's really that simple. This was a Pink Floyd show, and they were great, as expected!

Always a fun time. Not only does the Minnesota Orchestra do your usual classical and jazz cuts but occasionally they bring in artists for big shows. In this case, local hit maker and thinkpiece Dessa. A great show and great fun.

Beautiful venue with great sound ambiance. The Minnesota Orchestra is phenomenal and so talented! The drinks are pretty pricy and the quantity is not worth the price🥲.

Great city gem! If you ever feel like you "need more culture" in your life, try going to an orchestra concert...such a beautiful venue with convenient parking. The performance was truly amazing and beautiful to listen to. I did a "Galentine's" with one of my daughters and her friend and had a great time. If you're in need of switching up your date night routine, this would be an excellent choice!

The $20 tickets for people under 40 is so fire 🔥 This offering has made it so I can see 4x as many concerts as I would've before. I bring friends with and we always have a fantastic time. The space is beautiful, the drink and snack offerings are reasonable, and the staff is very polished.

first time visiting since elementary school. went for the Alex peretti memorial. amazing to see such a support to the healthcare and the community in general. staff was very kind and all the volunteers were very helpful. beautiful building as well. parking is very easy in the ramp that's connected. it was very reasonably priced as well.

Absolutely LOVE the orchestra every time we go. What a great occasion to get dressed up and enjoy the talented folks who keep music alive! Upon our arrival from the skyway we were greeted with a photo opportunity to take a photo in a "snow globe", what a cute way to make a great memory! As we headed downstairs the orchestra was all decorated with holiday themed hard and there were multiple bars and food stations for our evening. They are full service bars so feel free to order mixed drinks. The prices are a little steep but it is downtown. My favorite part are the support of the ushers, they are always so kind and helpful. Also, did you know that there are lockers to hang your coats? Definitely take advantage of this feature in the side halls if you don't want to fold your bulky coat under the seat- the lockers are free and have wooden hangers to keep your items! Then just take the key with you into the hall. We saw many folks miss this so sharing the educational so you can truly get a luxury experience! The orchestra has been doing a variety of events lately- not just music. On our 4th time back we have seen live acrobatics and this time we watched a live musical performance of the screening of Back to the future! A real joy! We will happily come back to support this org any time!

I live orchestra hall. I went for a screening of Frozen with the full orchestra. I was brought to tears many times. The orchestra is so incredibly talented and then experience is jaw dropping. Such a fun afternoon with friends and loved seeing all the kids dressed up! Parking is so easy in the attached garage. Lots of options in the concessions and I never have to wait too long for the bathroom. All around would recommend.

I love Orchestra Hall. They have a huge variety of shows- from classical to performing with pop stars to playing movie soundtracks while you watch the movie. The Orchestra is world class and beautiful to listen to, and if there's something you might want to see there, don't hesitate- just go.

I've always had a good experience at Minneapolis' Orchestra Hall. I've sat in the front and clear in the back and even in the balcony which I kind of prefer. It's fun to get a birds eye view of the entire orchestra and see how they work together. This was my second Dessa concert there. Superb. Such an amazing combo of classical, hip hop and harmonies. I've also enjoyed Vocal Essence choir concerts here and even the orchestra itself. It's a visually interesting sound stage with the combination of visuals on the back walls cubes it's a fantastic way to enjoy music classic and contemporary. Check them out for an amazing evening of all sorts of talent.

I just enjoyed my first concert here at Orchestra Hall, and boy, was I a fan. What an exceptionally talented group of musicians, and what an impressive variety of styles of music. Super acoustics made for a better-than-average listening experience. The building is beautiful, clean, and well-organized. Between the design and the friendly, helpful staff, the flow of people in and out was efficient despite the popularity of the series I was attending. What a great evening!

Get off that couch and put down your mobile. Minneapolis has TED yes the short amazing talks that stimulate your mind and spark conversions. This is a great event to learn and explore and quench your hunger for knowledge and curiosity. This event was held at the beautiful Orchestra Hall. If your just not interested in Tedx then come go to thier website and check out some of thier amazing events, they have something for everyone. Or take a stroll around the area and bring your kids to cool off on a hot day I had a blast and for those of you that know me, I would not recommend something that I think sucks. Come see me next year @TEDx Minneapolis 2024 if your interested in Tedx. If you don't know now!

Went here for an opening party and I thought it was an awesome venue. The multi-floor approach created a nice separation where you could have different activation areas throughout.

Orchestra Hall is my go to option for a night out downtown. The music is fabulous and never disappoints. I especially love their Movies and Music series where they play the live score to a movie playing on the big screen! They've played a Harry Potter movie each year for the last few years, and we just went to see the Half Blood Prince! The music was hauntingly beautiful, they had Photo Booths set up before the show, and the cocktails in the atrium were delicious!

What a great night! Harry Potter and the orchestra. The hall was packed. Covid restrictions were in place. Negative test or fully vaccinated and masks throughout. No food or beverage in orchestra hall so no reason to remove the mask. The movie is ine of my favorites and hearing the orchestra play during the production was a bonus. Upcoming in April they are doing the next Star Wars and in August they are doing Fantasia. We sit in the balcony. We like being up a bit higher. It is a casual affair, not so dressy as an orchestra concert. Drinks were available outside. We had dinner at Brits pub. And walked over Valet parking is available for $25.

Came here for the Dessa concert and it was a blast. The show was very entertaining with lots of different light shows and different ways to keep the audience entertained. I've been here on numerous occasions primarily for classical Minnesota Orchestra concerts, so attending a concert part of a different theme was a nice change. Every concert I've attended here has been superb - no complaints at all. Beautiful, spacious hall, beautiful lobby, beautiful music. This place is truly a gem in the Twin Cities, and in my opinion, this is an attraction off the beaten path.

I'll start off by saying I'm not a classical music connoisseur but I have always appreciated the skill and precision of the very talented musicians. That said, the MN Orchestra has found a wonderful way to fully engage me. I've attended a couple of movies played here with a live orchestra. Beauty and the Beast and Toy Story were shown with the orchestra playing all music and sound effects. If you have never seen this, I highly suggest you try it. You will be surprised how much more engaging the movie becomes and have fun with the many ways sound effects are made with the instruments. You really appreciate how much the music helps tell the story. Most recently I attended the Joyful Echoes performance. This performance combined instrumental music with singing and storytelling. It was wonderful. I'm positive I've never laughed so hard I cried at any concert ever. The stories highlighted the diversity of traditions and culture in a funny, engaging, and thoughtful way. The talents of these artists were appreciated and contributed to a festive holiday spirit. Merry Christmas Minnesota Orchestra.

I happened to be in town for work and the one evening I had free, there was a performance of Beethoven's Pastoral. The opening movement was moonlight sonata on piano that nearly had me in tears. How can this piece be so beautifully played with passion? If you have a chance to see a performance, I highly recommend it! It's a lovely venue.

Purchased drink coupons on line and was unable to use when I arrived to Orchestra Hall. THEN after intermission I was NOT allowed to enter the performance as the music had just begun! Will be doing a chargeback since I did not receive the goods and services I paid for! BEWARE, this is a consumer warning.

Waited in line long time for a tiny glass of expensive wine. Person was very slow filling orders in front of me. Ordered wine, from a pushy and rude person. I scanned my credit card (they do not take cash), machine was slow to process. Older man filling orders, grabbed credit card out of my hand, and then he ran my VISA card again stating I did not know how the CC machine worked (total BS). When bill came I WAS DOUBLE CHARGED. Filed VISA dispute which Citi Bank quickly settled removing the duplicate charge. Member for years, good concerts, BUT WILL NOT BUY CONCESSIONS again!

This is a high-quality venue for high-quality musical performances. Over the years I've probably seen a couple dozen performances here, and there has never been anything but world-class musicianship on display. (Except, if I'm being honest, this last time - October 2, 2019 - there was someone in the brass section that made numerous loud mistakes.) Although you can often see visiting musicians at Orchestra Hall, it's mostly thought of as the home of the Minnesota Orchestra. They routinely put together a season of classical concerts that have a lot of variety, and they go to great lengths to stretch the definition of what a live classical music experience should be like. They will have family-friendly concerts with interactive activities worked into the show, programs that include informative lectures about the music and the composers, even music-infused yoga classes. Recently they've been doing "film in concert" performances, where they literally screen a movie on a big screen above the orchestra, but they've taken the music track out of the movie and instead the orchestra plays that music live. When a movie has really great orchestral music, to see it with the music performed live is an incredible experience. I've seen them do it with West Side Story, E.T., and the first two Star Wars movies and I highly recommend doing this. (You'll want to scope out their calendar & get the tickets well in advance. These performances are popular.) They completed a significant renovation to the building in 2013 which makes the whole facility very attractive and spacious. I don't think they changed much inside the actual auditorium, but the lobby and exterior all look really good now. Tickets are not cheap. Approximately twice as much as a Guthrie ticket, I'd estimate. My recommendation is to get balcony tickets. They are cheaper, but you're there for music, and the acoustics are such that the sound quality from the balcony seating is still excellent... maybe even better than on the main floor. Plus, if you're interested in actually watching the musicians, the view is better because you're looking down on them. From the main floor, your view is mostly limited to the front row of the orchestra. Parking is also, well, it's Downtown Minneapolis, so you'll pay at least ten dollars to park nearby. The ramp that is connected to Orchestra Hall might seem convenient, but if it's a popular show it takes FOREVER to get out. I recommend not using that ramp. I've started looking for street parking or cheaper lots a couple of blocks away, and it's worked out much better. Valet parking is also an option. Caveats aside, if you want to hear great-sounding classical music you should look into a fancy evening here. Especially one of the "film in concert" things. But also other stuff. But I hope they fix their wonky brass section.

My first time experiencing the orchestra and it didn't disappoint. I took advantage of the special offer to guests under 40 years of age offering a $20 ticket. There were plenty of seats to choose from for this offer on the main floor and balcony seats. It's a beautiful modern building that has a spacious layout that's easily maneuverable. There are plenty of concession areas for snacks and drinks plus you can pre order drinks for easy pick up without the line. The event staff was delightfully polite and more than helpful with any questions or requests. It made for a great night and I will for sure be to another orchestra performance.

This is a beautiful acoustic space at the south edge of downtown that is a very cool amenity for Minneapolis. It is easy to access with a parking structure on 11th and Marquette. It is also attached to the Skyway so you can walk from other parts of downtown or the convention center in fully enclosed habitrail-style comfort. I am not a musical person so I know nothing of the criteria for what makes up an excellent concert hall but I suspect this place checks all the boxes. It is modern and multi-tiered inside with stadium style small balconies in the upper levels that provide a semi-private club box effect if you sit in those areas off of the main level floor. The views from anywhere above are really nice and it seems that the sound is excellent no matter where you sit inside the auditorium. In the foyer, there are a lot of ushers willing to point you in the right direction along with several concessions and even some polite, uniformed police officers milling about with the crowd which initially seemed a little out of place but in retrospect, given the world we live in, now seems like a nice touch in the interest of public safety. The location puts it easily within walking distance of several hotels, pubs, restaurants and shops at the foot of Nicollet Mall. Its location is fitting as one of the cultural gems that Minneapolis has to offer .

Orchestra Hall is absolutely beautiful. From looking at it from the outside to coming to their main lobby inside it truly is a masterpiece. If driving by car, there are a ton of parking ramps around the area close to the Hall. The actual performance hall is breathtaking. It was very well done and you hear the orchestra the way it is meant to be heard. Beautiful. The performances here are very well done. Props should definitely be given to the members in the Orchestra who make this experience so memorable. The conductor here does a fantastic job and all of the pieces played and truly breathtaking. If you want to get something to eat before the show, there are many restaurants around the area. It is nice to get something in your belly before so you stomach isn't growling during the performance!

Orchestra Hall is one of my favorite venues in town. I have attended shows since college (love the college series - affordable and fun) and always enjoy a good show every now and then - Up was the most recent! This place also holds a special place in my heart as it was the place I proposed to my girlfriend over Thanksgiving weekend in 2020. I reached out to Nick Peter - Event Manager - during late August to see if this was possible. It hasn't been done, but Nick and his team were phenomenal. They are passionate, thoughtful, and committed to making my vision a reality. During the months leading up to it, Nick and I stayed in touch and worked with a dedicated team of coordinators, ushers, and vendors. The day of the event was magical. Everything fell into place. We went to an amazing Up show and then I was able to go up to the Juliet Balcony to propose. Thankful for the Orchestra Hall for giving us memories of an incredible show and for lifelong memories for our families to cherish.

Wow the building itself and the space is so beautiful! It's modern and sleek. The auditorium is a work of art. The 3-D cube-like geometric figures that pop out of the ceilings and back wall are amazing and mesmerizing! The performance I attended was Home for the Holidays. The orchestra played traditional holiday music as the ensemble told a fun and light-hearted story of a man's memory of Christmas from his and a younger version of him's perspective. It was a festive performance and really put me in the spirit of the holiday season. It was my first concert here and I'm excited to come back to see other more performances. Setbacks: Tickets aren't cheap, but I was lucky I found a 50% off offer. Parking is also not the best. It's on the heart of downtown, so parking isn't cheap. Since it's right on Nicollet Mall, there's not a whole lot of street parking available. There are a few ramps nearby, although if there's a concert, there is also usually an event parking rate of at least $10. Orchestra Hall does offer valet, but there seems to be a limited number of spots, as I saw a sign that said full when I walked in. I parked in the 11th and Marquette ramp, just right across the street. Overall, beautiful venue and wonderful performance, but ticket prices and parking are what's stopping me from more frequent visits.

Been here for two shows and I have absolutely loved everything about my time at the MN orchestra hall! We saw dessa live with MN orchestra. Such an amazing experience, I barely blinked! We also saw Star Wars. I confess, I'm not a huge Star Wars fan but I still loved my night there. I barely watched the movie because I was so focused watching the composer and the different members of the orchestra. It's really inspirational to watch so many talented people come together and create something that takes your breath away. Drinks are available for purchase before and during the break. They don't allow certain drinks (like red wine) into the hall so ask before hand if you can sip on it through the show or not before you order. If you're interested in a concert or a movie to music, make sure you stay alert to when tickets go on sale because they go fast! Street parking is available a few blocks away in the Loring Park area (free on certain nights/time). Otherwise, parking ramps are nearby.

OK - I played the violin in the school orchestra when I was a kid and I have since been a love of both live orchestra performances and classical music. For some crazy reason, I have lived here for eight years now and finally made it to my first show at Orchestra Hall. It was fabulous. Of course it was also a live screening of Jurassic Park with the orchestra playing the score - which was amazing both because I love Jurassic Park and I LOVE the score from the original movie. Check, check, check. We had a grand time. I was happy to find that you could purchase food and beverage and take it into the theater with you. But they wouldn't let you bring in coffee (even though they sell it), which I thought was kind of odd. But ok, your house your rules. Fine. The staff all-around was super friendly and kind. We really appreciated all of them. The music was obviously great, and we were seated close enough that we could see some of the musicians were truly enjoying the experience and the interaction with the audience as much as we were enjoying their performance. The acoustics were terrific as you might expect, and the room itself is both beautiful and visually stunning, with the geometric things in the ceiling for improvement of acoustics (sorry, that's the best I can do in terms of explanation. Now someone will tell me they're just fancy speakers). I also really appreciated the sense of humor the Orchestra brought to this event... they had people dressed as dinosaurs interacting with the audience (especially kids) out in the lobby, and there was a mini skeleton on display (not a real dinosaur but something similar). So kind of museum, theme park and orchestra performance in one. We will be back!

Simply the best place to hear music in the metro! I go for many events but my favorite is the University of St.Thomas Choir Christmas concert. The venue is beautiful and great sounding. They have coat closets inside as well as valet parking. Food and drinks are often served on site for events. This is a really fun place architecturally so take some time and walk around the many levels of the lobby. The inside is musically perfect with sound flowing at the right level to every seat.

Update: I do want to update my review and say that the Orchestra Website now has a "view from my seat" option so you can look at your view before purchasing tickets. I would also like to point out that Orchestra Hall did work with me and let me know that if you ever have a problem with your seat during a performance you can go to the box office and they usually have seats reserved if anyone needs to switch. They also offered me two additional comp tickets to another performance. They went above an beyond to help my not so great experience into a good one. And I appreciate how they have updated their website to help people select seating that will work the show. I can't wait to see my next show! Previous Review: Orchestra Hall is beautiful and I have absolutely loved every performance I have seen here. From the initial greeting from the doorman til the end of last note played, the experience is always delightful. I did want to focus my review on seats with an obstructed view because this was something I was looking for when purchasing tickets. I found the obstructed view seats to be very obstructed. I figured when I bought them that part of the orchestra would be obstructed, but you could neither see the orchestra or the film that was being played. I really don't think they should have even sold these seats for a movie show. As you can see below there is a handrail obstructing the screen and what little you can see is blocked by other patrons. It was definitely not worth the $40 + ticket I paid for and I wish I had known how obstructed it was before purchasing. I hope this review helps someone else out! Definitely pay the extra money to have a clear view.

I recently saw Beethoven and Berlioz conducted by Jun Märkl here. I had never been to an indoor orchestra hall before, and I was impressed by the one in my own backyard! Everything in this space is really clean, modern, and airy. Though, it's possibly too modern when watching classical symphonies... but I can see how versatile the hall is for hosting all sorts of performances. I believe there were four levels from floor to tiered balconies, and it looks like there's not a bad seat in the house. I was in row 11 on the floor, and was able to see over everyone's heads and enjoy the huge elevated stage and insanely talented violinists. I bet it's nice to look down from the mezzanine too! All of the employees were friendly and helpful. The drinks are expensive, though, and I think they add a charge if you use a card (I heard 15%??)... our two skimpy martinis = $38 after tip, oof. But they have a cool system where you can order drinks ahead of time, so they're ready on a table for you at intermission. Come here and feel cultured and enjoy the arts as well as the occasional person snoring!

Recently attended a concert here for the first time since the major renovation of 2013. In my estimation, an acoustically superb hall was preserved while enhanced with quite comfortable seating, more spacious lobbies, casual gathering areas, an informal performance space and a host of other backstage amenities that were sorely needed to update a 40+ year old structure. I'll add that the staff are uniformly cordial, helpful and numerous. One very small issue was that a number of coat lockers were out of commission. Several had to be tried before finding one in good working order. A much larger issue is that of Peavey Plaza. This should be a tremendous downtown asset but has been plagued with design flaws, poorly executed changes and a general air of neglect. Supposedly a major project has been OK'd to give the Plaza a badly needed revitalization by the end of the year (2018). I hope plans come to fruition and this becomes the attractive, vibrant multi-use space it once was and could be again. All-in-all, Orchestra Hall should continue to serve as a first-class facility for a world-class orchestra for years to come.

Beautiful, modern facility and incredibly talented musicians! What I love is that the MN Orchestra has many programs to help more people access orchestral music. For folks under 40, check out the $20under40 program (discounted tickets to encourage more young people to visit the orchestra!) Families with young kids should look into Hall Pass, Kinder Konzerts, and sensory-friendly & relaxed Family concerts. The MN Orchestra offers a wealth of classical programming in addition to contemporary avenues into the genre, such as movies & music or visiting performing artists like Ben Folds. A delightful treat for all ages.Would be a great date night, birthday present, or special occasion for the kids!

The standards are pretty high from the get-go when you walk in the door so I was ready to find some flaws but I found none. The hall itself is so gorgeous and has accented walls to improve sound quality. The orchestra is talented and professional and in the show they were given the task of improvising a song and they pulled it off without a hitch. There are beverages available and merchandise and the MOB (Minnesota Orchestra Band) played Tom Petty covers in the lobby after the show! Beautiful show and I will be back!

I had been to the hall prior for events but had never heard the orchestra or been inside the music hall. That changed this weekend and I am still in such a good mood from the show. The hall itself has accessible parking via a skyway or by walking across the street, but you can also find free street parking over by Westminster Abbey. Visually this place is stunning and has walls and walls of glass. The concessions featuring locally made desserts were actually very reasonably priced. A gigantic cookie was $5, chocolate mousse was $3 etc. A paper cup of coffee was $4. A small plastic cup of wine however-$12. Personally I can't bring myself to pay that(my fav rose' is $5.99 a bottle- do not judge me). Worth noting but not bad, per se. The venue-- The room is open, no obstructed sight lines that I could see from any angle. The seats, OMG. Plush, wide and comfortable. I have mentioned before I am also large and wide. I was totally comfortable as were people next to me. The sound was excellent, I was near the back but it didn't matter as it was so clear and brilliant. The graphics behind the stage were very cool and the orchestra itself was perfection, as was the performer I was seeing. I can't think of any flaws but will update if any come up. I should also mention I was there to see an iconic performer and my ticket was only $30--I hope to attend more shows if they are this affordable.

I went to their showing/playing of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I had no idea that something like this existed! Completely magical evening. You can also order drink tickets in advance online which speeds things up during intermission. Much shorter wait for the women's room than most events! The orchestra was professional and played well. A solid evening.

I recently attended the Little Mermaid Live to Film performance and it was amazing. The idea of it is that the movie plays, and the orchestra plays all of the background music and songs. Honestly if you weren't paying attention, you wouldn't even know it was them playing all of it because they were perfect. Only thing I will say that is that we had balcony seats which are great for watching the movie but, in order to see the actual orchestra, I had to be on the edge of my seat slightly standing up. Pretty uncomfortable if you actually want to watch the musicians. Other than that, I'm dying to see another performance because they are so good.

This was my first visit, and I am looking forward to many more! Especially after the performance of Star Trek: Into Darkness with the Minnesota Orchestra! What an amazing performance! Though I have seen the movie several times, it was a great new experience to hear and feel the music!

I attended a wedding here a few weeks ago (summer 2015) and it was the perfect space for a wedding. The building is surrounded by giant glass windows that look out over downtown. We could feel the energy from the surrounding nightlife, but couldn't hear any of the noise through the glass. The ceremony was held in a small room on the north side of the building. It was the perfect size for a wedding of approximately 200 people. After the ceremony we were ushered up to the mezzanine for a cocktail hour. They had two bars set up, and indoor/outdoor seating. The upper balcony was a nice place for family photos. For dinner, we were escorted back downstairs into the foyer. Everything was elegantly decorated. Dancing was in the same room where the ceremony was held. They also had the patio open with an outdoor bar. The staff and facilities could not have been better. There were plenty of bathrooms (at least three sets) and friendly staff to point you in the right direction. Even though everything was in one building, it was nice to move around throughout the evening. If you are in the market for a wedding/event venue, I would highly recommend taking a look at this space!

There are good concert halls, and there are great concert halls. Orchestra Hall is clearly in the latter. The acoustics are first-rate, it's a beautiful facility and the seating is convenient and comfortable. It's the kind of place if the concertmaster is playing pianissimo tremolo by themselves during a spot in an orchestral piece and you're in the back row, the cheap seats, guess what? You hear it. The lighting is elegant, the entire design is modern and it's the kind of place you can get lost in a performance (as my daughter and I did last night). Oh, and that bane of almost every single facility, the bathrooms when intermission comes? Yep, aplenty, well thought out, easy to find. Even the lobby with it's multi-levels, gracious windows and ample bar space seems to have been designed by a team that knew what the hell they were doing. It was only the parking I didn't experience. Minneapolis, you're damn lucky. I thought you should know in case you haven't figured it out.

Professional staff: classy but not at all pretentious. Friendly and helpful. Overpriced drinks so be warned, but it is nice to enjoy a glass of white wine during the performance. The Minnesota Orchestra is tops. I have been mesmerised by some of their shows. I love it when a performance just leaves me in awe, unable to form words, and this orchestra can do it.

Orchestra Hall is a weird-ass building. Can we all agree on that? It looks like a glass-encased LegoLand, designed by architects/plumbers Mario and Luigi. Primary colors and oddly placed pipes don't make one think "world-class music hall," but it IS a world-class music hall. OK, I'm done making fun of the architecture. Now for the great things about Orchestra Hall! 1. Peavey Plaza Sommerfest concerts: Outdoor music (pop, rock, jazz, Latin, etc.), beer, cheese curds, BBQ sandwiches, kid-friendly, dog-friendly 2. Accessibility: It's walking distance from everything and connected by skyway to the rest of downtown. It's also welcoming and accessible to all kinds of people, even those who don't know anything about classical music. They have student discounts and programs to involve a younger audience too. 3. Music: I had the pleasure of seeing the spry Brazilian guitarist Gilberto Gil and the international jazz group Pink Martini here. The acoustics are incredible for any style of music, whether you're seeing one of the visiting musicians or the resident MN Orchestra.

Great music! The orchestra has a wide range of music in their repertoire, from the standard classical to more current. There is something for everyone! Balcony seating has fabulous views (just make sure to adjust your seat, if possible, so you don't get a sore neck). Main floor views are also great and have the comfiest seats I've been in for a concert! The free lockers around the auditorium are a nice touch. Beverages and snacks before the concert and intermission are good, but lines are long (they move rather quickly but the length can be off-putting). I've even many times and have never had a bad experience!

The show I attended was 2hours long and featured samples from various shows that will be coming in 2012. With classical music, I love how the music tells a story and how quickly it changes from sweet and soothing to powerful and thrilling. So with a special offer through Groupon I was able to indulge in the experience. Upon entering the hall, there were little bar areas set up offering a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There were also several tables where people could sign up for memberships and such. Overall, the lobby was bursting with energy prior to the show starting. Initially when got into the auditorium, my thoughts were...it's spacious. However, as soon as I sat down, I realized it really wasn't. The seats are awfully close and compact and slightly uncomfortable. I'm the type of person that likes using the armrest, but the seats just weren't conducive for that. The orchestra did a great job and the conductor was very animated and entertaining (I just love how intense conductors typically get). Despite the seating issue, I really enjoyed the performance and I look forward to attending future performances.

Wonderful performances by the Minnesota Orchestra. Easy access parking in the ramp and then a brief walk through skyway into the Hall. Easy ticket pick-up at their "Will Call" counter. All sorts of people milling about. Young, old, casual, dressy. Plenty of stalls in the womens' bathrooms make for only brief waiting. Soon, the concerts will be held at the Mpls. Convention Center until the renovation of the Hall is completed; however, continue to use the same parking ramp and skyway access, albeit a different route. Tip: do not bother going to your car parked in the ramp right after the concert. You'll be idling for a long time while moving an inch at a time. Find something else to do for a good 30 minutes or so and then go to your car and begin exiting the ramp.

Great and beautiful hall. Looks really nice. But talk about no sense of organization. Here we are all lining up nicely and in a civilized way to get into Balcony A and when the doors open the moron ushers just allow people from everywhere to just walk into the doors. The people way at the end of the line end up getting into the hall first, scooping up the prime seats, because they all just run to the door, bypassing people who are waiting in line. Sure, it's fine if people have assigned seats but our event didn't. I sure hope they fix this.

Wonderful performance by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with the great Wynton Marsalis. This was my first time attending and everything was absolutely perfect. The parking was convenient. Great staff. Cozy seats. The music was the best I've heard since my days in NYC. Thanks to my Godmother, it was an unforgettable evening of jazz and holiday cheer. We will be back very soon!

No matter what seat you get, the view is wonderful. Really beautiful unique architecture. The strangeness of the jutting abstract shapes is actually very precisely planned, it's made to control the sounds. I'm no classical music expert, so for me, the recent performance was perfectly divine. Lovely music that brings me back to my dreamy youth. The only annoying thing was the overpriced drinks! The bartender admitted that they charge automatic 8% gratuity. Next time, I will definitely pregame elsewhere beforehand.

First time to Orchestra Hall to see Chris Botti in concert. Everything about the experience was good. Tons of staff on hand to greet you and direct you to your seat. Mature audience. Decent seats. If you, like I, are happy to avoid crowds, opt for the elevated box seats. They give an unobstructed view of the stage and you'll have just a handful of people around you. Obviously, the acoustics here are the big draw and boy, are they good. Crisp, clear sound ringing throughout the auditorium. We were happy campers.

For Valentine's Day I went out and had a nice dinner at Barbette's. I also drank half a bottle of wine. As someone who can't break down alcohol, this is a big deal. Later in the evening, I vaguely remember stumbling into Orchestra Hall for the Vänskä Conducts Sibelius series. Everyone there was dressed up all fancy-like. This place is serious business. According to the MN Orchestra website, this concert series was about "music to embolden the northern spirit in midwinter...Nielsen's Fifth is the rush of a toboggan ride through mountains and pines; Sibelius' Second rallied his countrymen to rise against the glowering Russian bear." Sounds pretty good, right? Unfortunately, I never got past Nielsen's Fifth. I woke up at intermission, drooling on my date's shoulder and the elderly couple to our right glaring at me. "Why are they looking at me like that?" I asked my date, who replied: "You were snoring." Heeey, time to go home. While my time at Orchestra Hall was cut short, I did admire the good acoustics of the music hall and the student discount, which reduces all tickets to ten bucks. I am determined to return someday soon and get my dose of classical music.

Top tier symphony orchestra. Conducted by Osmo Vanska. I spent many weekends in high school scoring student rush tickets. If you live in Minnesota, you absolutely need to see them. Principal cellist Tony Ross is wonderful, so if he is ever performing a solo work, GO!

Went for the Star Trek with live orchestra during their Somerfest series. They had a lot of free extras in the lobby as well as extra food and drink stands for their Somerfest outside. It was a little steep for tickets but you're getting the experience of live music as well as the extras. Not all the food stands outside accepted cards which is something that should be considered when inviting businesses to participate. People just don't carry cash anymore. The sound was great, even though I was practically in the very last row on the very top balcony. The cubed soundboards on the ceiling were an interesting and beautiful design but also obviously very practical. The design of the common areas, however, is very odd with a 20 different balconies at different levels. If you're not good on stairs, expect a wait for the lone elevator during intermission and after the performance. More ramps or less levels would have solved this problem. I plan to attend again for a future live movie concert.

I had a chance to go to their winter sampler concert through Groupon. It was very affordable and we got to hear a little bit of everything they had going in the winter '10. The conductor, who also hosted the event, was very pleasant. She explained each act very nicely and made all the audience feel welcome. I am looking forward to another event I can take mother to and get cultured. :) One negative note though is that they cold call you like crazy after your first concert. They want you to buy the package deal of some sort. No thanks!

The new and improved orchestra hall has greatly upgraded the creature comforts. The seats are roomier and more comfortable than a Delta first class airline seat with much more legroom too. On second thought that may be far too low of a bar. In any case I'm happy with the upgrades and looking forward to tonight's concert.

I don't get to go nearly as often as I like, but this is my favorite thing to do in the Twin Cities. The musicians are amazing, I followed them through the awful partisan mess that the management dragged them through a couple of years ago, and they've come out brilliant. I attended a late concert on New Year's Eve a few years ago and it still stands out as the best New Year's Eve of my life. Everything they do is so wonderful, it's a testament to how important orchestras are even given how unbelievably expensive they are to produce. They are beacons of hope in a darkening world. Thanks guys!