Morton Meyerson Symphony Center

We have visited here for a variety of musical presentations: symphonies, winds concerts, choral concerts, etc. We most recently visited for the Eric Whitacre winds/​choral concert in March. Loved it! The concert hall is beautiful. Small enough that there aren’t any bad seats, and a very deep-​seated balcony so the side box seats feel very close to the stage platform.

The center is beautiful and spacious. I attended a doctoral graduation ceremony recently and sat in one of the box seats. Unfortunately, we had an attendant who continually checked the box for available seats throughout the evening. I saw several seats available in other boxes and wasn’t sure why she kept coming into our area asking who was sitting in the seats, even in the middle of the ceremony.
I realized that it was because my baby niece was with us and had the potential of needing a bottle. Since there’s no food allowed in the building, she was walking in to check that we weren’t feeding her. We were very conscious in making sure that we weren’t disrupting other guests.
The whole experience with the attendant was unnecessary and uncomfortable. Terrible.

This is a beautiful venue. From the lobby to the halls to the seating everything is great.
This trip was for a field trip with my sons kindergarten class. My only complaint was that the parking garage was $ 10. Paying to park makes me angry! Other than that everything was great. The conductor was really good talking to the kids and describing the selections. The acoustics are perfect and we felt like we could hear every instrument. Everyone was extremely professional even though almost every one there was on a field trip. The seats are large and comfy and you can see the stage well.
Great place to see a performance.

The Meyerson Symphony is world class! Truly one of the best symphonies I have heard. The building is absolutely beautiful and has wonderful acoustics. Really no seat is a bad seat in that auditorium! I’ve been here many times over the years and have always enjoyed a great performance. Definitely a treat!

Dvorak– Cello Concerto! Its a beautiful center — wonderful hall and music!

Came here for the Tango Fiesta: SOLUNA. It was a wonderful experience. I loved hearing the bandoneon play in a quartet. The tango dancers did really well, even though it was slightly unsynchronized near the end of the concert. It’s definitely worth the time to relax and enjoy some tango. It’s a beautiful atmosphere I think everyone should go check out and explore whenever they’re in downtown. They have balcony seats and seating behind the orchestra. The staff there are really sweet. The Opera house is right next to it as well! It’s a great place to check out and explore around!

The Meyerson Symphony Center is a beautiful building and performance hall. I’ve seen a handful of shows here and they have all been very good! I always have a fun time here and there is usually coffee /​snacks available prior to the show if you come early enough, it’s a good way to decompress.

I love the minimalistic style and layout of the building and the concert hall (I’m originally from Russia, so I can say this :)). The acoustics seem to be different based on seats location, but even $ 19 seats were very enjoyable.

A beautiful symphony space that is the anchor of the Dallas Arts District. More contemporary than the Bass Hall, it is also larger and has more features like a café, valet, and on-​site on parking. It is also considerably easier to locate your seat; the Bass Hall can feel like a climb with the tall stairs. I also appreciate the grand scale of the MSC with the huge windows and large lobby looking out to the other theatre spaces in the area — adding to the «big» Texas feeling.

I have been to the Meyerson about 4 times in the past two years, and I am impressed in every way. I have seen a few concerts and one high school graduation here. The architecture is absolutely beautiful. In the concert hall, the lighting is a perfect combination of clarity and softness. The acoustics are amazing. I am by no means an expert, but I understand that the Meyerson is among the top in the world, and has been compared to the Scala in Milan. I have heard this several time, and I do not doubt it. I went to see the DSO yesterday, and was a concert it was. They are very talented and very entertaining.

Super neat place, where the Symphony plays. We had a large group event here approximately 500. Very nice place to have a large function. All marble/​walls/​floors. Very nice ambiance and feel to it as you would expect for a place where the symphony plays and other high end performers.

Morton Meyerson center is one of the premier live arts performance halls in the Dallas Arts District. Home of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, this beautiful location is a fantastic venue for watching various shows.
My Overall Rating — 5 Stars (Atmosphere, Service, Facility, Return)
Atmosphere — The Meyerson is simply one of the most beautiful buildings in Dallas. It’s a large, open building with plenty of windows for natural light. Here you’ll find a number of picturesque views where natural beams of sunshine rain down on the marble floors and steps. It’s also a popular location for wedding photos. It also sports underground parking garages that lead you right into the building (no need to cross streets. 1 Star.
Service — The entire Meyerson staff is so friendly, from the ticket counter, the ticket takers, the ushers, and the bartenders, everyone is helpful and are there to ensure you have a good time. It takes a large staff to pull off each production, and when you don’t notice them it means the focus is on the show on stage. 1 Star.
Facility — The Meyerson sports an opera hall style layout. There is floor seating in addition to balcony. Every seat provides a great view of the stage, which is large enough to house the orchestra, the choir, and a large organ. But this place is all about acoustics. The high ceiling allows the sound to flow out to ensure you get the best experience. One minor complaint is the elevators and bathrooms can be difficult to get too. Overall this is a fantastic venue for the arts and an amazing gem for the city of Dallas. 2 Stars.
Will I Return? — Yes, this is a fantastic venue, with enough shows that appeal to all ages. My now wife took her engagement photos here, we’ve been to several concerts, and it really is an amazing place. 1 Star.
My Unilocal Rating Scale (Sum of all parts):
1 Star — Atmosphere — Is it a cool dive? Perhaps an upscale place? No matter the type, atmosphere plays a big part and I’ll give a star if I like it or thinks it has great charm.
1 Star — Service — You can have a great meal with bad service. But that’s also what can make a five star joint drop to four. It’s important to the dining experience that service is great and on point.
2 Stars — Facility — I’ll award up to two stars for the facility, since this is the main reason we go out. Sometimes the extra star is given for value, but it’s really all about the facility.
1 Star — Will I come back? — If I know for a fact I’ll return, I’ll give this a star. A place has to make an impression for me to return.
Each Category can be given up to 1 star except food (2 stars) because I consider all these categories important to the overall dining experience. I will sum them up to provide my final Unilocal score.

The city of Dallas is quickly establishing itself as an «arts» town. Millions of dollars have been put into the Arts District throughout the years, helping establish it as the largest arts district in the nation. In the midst of all of the new construction, the new theaters and opera houses, the Morton Meyerson Symphony Center still shines just as bright as it did when it first opened back in 1989.
I’ve had the privilege of not only watching performances from the audience, but also working with the awesome staff of the Meyerson during TBAAL concerts throughout the years. All of my experiences with this center and with the people associated with it have been positive.
First of all, the acoustics of this place are top notch. I’ve heard everything from a symphony orchestra, to a mass gospel choir, to a R&B soloist, and all of them sounded beautifully. Thick, movable concrete panels as well as thick curtains are adjusted accordingly to make each performance sound up to par. Not only the well thought out construction of the building, but the very knowledgeable staff help make everything sound perfect.
Just looking at the building is an event itself. Once you enter the massive lobby, the white marble surrounds you immaculately. Large staircases and huge windows that show the view of the rest of the Arts District are all around you. While in the lobby, they serve refreshments and have some tables set up for you to socialize and drink before you enter and after you leave the concert hall itself.
Inside McDermott Hall, most of the seating is very intimate with the stage. The different balcony levels shoot all the way around and get pretty close to the stage itself. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house, even if you are sitting on the last row on the floor, you will enjoy the show without a problem.
Besides the DSO, there are a lot of other spectacular events that you can attend at the Meyerson. TBAAL, the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, and many other groups perform here throughout the year. Parking shouldn’t be too much of an issue. They have a garage (you have to pay of course), but there are plenty of parking lots nearby. They also have valet parking out front as well.
Take a trip to a gem of Dallas, it will definitely be a memorable night.

First, bought tickets online using the «Print your ticket at Home» option. When we arrived, found out that you have to stand in line because they have to print your «real» ticket even though the paper you are holding says, «THIS IS YOUR TICKET.» Seriously? Then, the bar code and all the rest of what is printed on the non-​ticket you hand them to get your «real» ticket, holds absolutely NO information that might assist the MENSA candidates at the ticket office to find your «real» tickets in the computer so they may be printed! Nightmare!
Secondly, seems like to me that on a cold winter’s night, you do NOT allow valet to fill up! Duh!
Thirdly, got to our lumpy, uncomfortable seats, and there was a squeaky noise. It sounded like a spinning wheel containing zero point zero applications of WD40. Perhaps a spot light? Unknown.
Finally, to top off the evening, the sound guys had no clue how to balance the back up singers with the main vocalist or indeed with each other, since the alto line was all we could hear the whole concert besides the main vocalist! Perhaps they should hire sound guys WITH musical training as well??? Just sayin!

This is a great place to hear orchestral music. However, most rock or jazz gets lost in the reverberation. Also, many of the concerts are attended by people who may not be a fan of the artists, but go because they bought a subscription.
I attended the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra 10 years ago, and was amazed by all the people sitting there listening to this amazing jazz, and not even tapping their foot!
In contrast, I went to see Full Moon Fever — Tom Petty Tribute Band with the DSO. I was in Loge Box A next to the stage, and could hardly hear the orchestra. The band was, as someone from the audience so aptly yelled during a break between song, too loud. If you mix the volume of the band with the reverb from the hall, it became Acoustic Oatmeal… everything was mushy, with not real crispness or definition. I felt bad for the orchestra, because they were playing their hearts out, and could barely be heard.

I love this place. Like many who probably do as well, I don’t come here often enough. It’s not prohibitively expensive. It’s not really a pain to get to. I don’t really have a good reason. The space is beautiful, and the acoustics are spectacular. Went most recently for the John Williams and Arthur Fiedler tribute night. Any truly great city has places like this; but for places like this to thrive, the city’s people need to continually patronize and attend the events. We have the 2012 best conductor. We have a gorgeous and relatively new center in the arts district. There are a multitude of events from the regular DSO (very good) to contemporary performers. Get out of your comfort zone and experience this place. It’s more worth your time and money than any bar and just about any restaurant out there.
Now if we can just get a few more café-​type, welcoming restaurants out there.

Beautiful space, fantastic acoustics. Online ticket ordering is a breeze. However, if you plan to go, best to order your tickets well ahead of time because some performances can sell out rather quickly.
A few negatives about seating: Grand Tier seating is several levels up, so if you’re sporting super high heels, not steady on your feet or lacking physical stamina, take the elevators because it can be a long walk up carpet and tile stairs. Box seats tend to be hit or miss; if you don’t care about looking at the stage then it’s not a problem. But if there’s a visual aspect to your program, then it might be something of a strain to look over the rails and past the column in your line of sight.
Also, the regular auditorium seating isn’t adjustable, nor very forgiving for wide girths. If you’re packing some extra pounds (especially on your posterior), it can make for a very long uncomfortable show. As other Unilocal have observed, it might be a long hike to your chair if you chose something central, meaning an obstacle course of patrons to shuffle in front of/​next to. The box seating tends to be more comfortable and accessible since they are individual cushioned chairs, but availability might be a problem.
The staff here are always polite and helpful. It’s also convenient that they have a café/​concession lobby. Thankfully, rest stops are plentiful on every level, though it might mean long lines during especially popular performances. Valet and underground garage parking are conveniently located so you don’t have to worry about navigating busy downtown traffic if you’re pressed for time to make a show. The symphony center shop is nice, but I wished there were more souvenirs worth taking home. But the retail space is hardly the reason to go the Meyerson… this is all about the space and the shows. A worthy place to get yourself a good dose of culture.

Came here for Frozen Planet and was awed by the experience. The building is gorgeous and the performance hall is more intimate than I thought it would be. We will definitely look for other events and come back again.

It’s easy to take your city for granted. To not explore what it actually offers. So I make a point to explore different parts of who my city is. Let me introduce you to the Meyerson– home to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
The building itself is stunning. Every time I go, I wish I had a wide-​angle lens with me to capture the many cool features of this structure.
The seating is a little rigid– no reclining here! Be prepared to squeeze by others in your row, and possibly stand up to let others pass through. But I don’t think there’ s a bad seat in the house. My favorite so far has been the dress circle, but the grand tier (usually a less costly option) is not lacking anything.
The staff here is really helpful. They will help you find your destination. Also, there are bells and chimes to alert you to when you need to haul ass to your seat. If you are fortunate enough to get their early, enjoy a beverage or cake before the show. I haven’t partaken yet, but found myself drooling as I saw some cakes and an Irish coffee being made. Yes, please!
Oh– and the music! Obviously each show is different. I’ve seen Vivaldi’s Spring– featuring a flamboyant pianist, went to the Legend of Zelda symphony– that was fun!, and more recently saw an amazing violinist performing a composer I had never previously heard of (though I read he’s quite popular in Finland). In all of these shows, I’ve found the timing to work out well. I enjoy the separation of movements, and the intermission always seems very well placed.
There is a parking garage, valet, and (for those who enjoy racking up the steps on their pedometer) meters by the DMA– which are free on weekdays after 6.
Dress code varies. It’s not as fancy as I thought it might be on my first visit. Just make some effort and you’ll be ok!

The Meyerson is phenomenal… I took a tour on a Friday during the day. A FREE organ display and tour of the center. It was awesome. When you see an orchestra here, it will absolutely wow you.
The history behind the building makes it just that much more enjoyable.
Not to mention I went on «casual» Friday. If you get a chance, GO! You wear jeans and a shirt, they have couches in the lobby, and a jazz quartet was playing the in lobby with snacks and drinks available after the show.
I can’t rave enough about this place. The arts need to be something we hold on to, and the Meyerson keeps it alive in Dallas.

1 million stars! What a life-​changing experience the symphony is! And this Meyerson Symphony Center is breath-​taking and adds to the beauty of the music.
I cannot urge you enough to visit this place if you are anywhere near Dallas (read: within a 20 mile radius). Just, the arcitecture is awe-​inspiring alone!
Wow, just wow.

The MLK Celebration was well diverse and good. Performances this year included some local and world known artist. The TBAAL choir and dancers put on an awesome show this year. Ledisi performance was outstanding with a standing ovation each time. Chrisette Michelle was good bit seemed a bit withdrawn and holding back her true range of vocal melodies. A the end both artist sang «We Shall Overcome» together that brought the house down. This was a great tribute concert to Dr. King, very spiritual and moving.
NOTE: Parking garage is seriously bad. Waiting for elevators and exiting is a total take a number and being a book or good CD moment. «FOR REAL! Ladies, my advice is to let him go get the car while you hang out in lobby being gorgeous and social… ((wink, wink.:()

Okay, I feel like a big ol’ loser since I’ve only been to the Meyerson once. My poor sheltered life. I went a few Friday’s ago to see Elvis Costello perform with the DSO. Awesome, awesome concert.
We opted to pay the $ 20 valet to not have to walk in the Texas heat in heels. Pricey, but worth it, and they have the valet system running fairly smoothly so there wasn’t that long of a wait at the end of the night.
The venue is really kickass. I didn’t even mind climbing the millions of stairs to get to the top level. There weren’t really that many stairs, but my fat ass felt like there were. We were on the first row of the top balcony and it was kind of scary walking to our seats. I felt like one false move and I would be splattered on the floor below us. I’m clumsy, what can I say. Still very neat and we had a perfect view of the stage. I could imagine there’s not going to be a bad seat in the house. I thought the sound was awesome. Then again it was Elvis Costello and I love his voice. The orchestra was great as well.
An important tip (at least to me) is to buy booze on the first floor when you see it, because you can’t find it upstairs, and you can’t drink at your seats. This ain’t no Starplex.
Overall it was a great experience and I hope to return sooner than later.