FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

But I need a degree in music…
Do you have to be a chef to enjoy a fine meal? Everyone is welcome at our concerts.

From what to wear to when to clap, we answer your most burning questions here. Don’t see your question? Call 513.381.3300 (M-S, 10 AM-5 PM) or email us.

Where should I sit?

For the best blend of value and great acoustics: the Gallery. Best leg room: the Orchestra level (main floor). Lowest price: CSO Xtreme seats on the main floor ($10/concert) or Pops Gallery D ($25-26/concert). Best overall value: Side Balcony C-price (CSO $33.75-45-48.50/concert or Pops $39.50-41.50). Season ticket prices are even lower. Top

What should I wear?

There is no dress code at Music Hall. Anything that makes you feel comfortable is fine. Most people will be wearing business clothes or dressy casual clothes, but you'll see everything from jeans to cocktail dresses. Some people enjoy dressing up and making a special evening of it, and you can, too. Still, evening gowns and tuxedos are pretty rare unless you've bought tickets for a fancy gala. If you do decide to dress up, though, go easy on the perfume and after shave, which can distract others near you and even prompt them to sneeze—and may distract you. Top

When do I clap?

Ah, the age-old question. In symphony concerts, very often there will be several pieces on the program, but sometimes there is one single work played straight through. It's a good idea to take a look at the program before the concert to get an idea of what to expect. It is customary to wait until the end of a complete work to applaud. When in doubt, wait until significant applause has begun and chime in.

The bottom line: There are 90 musicians on stage playing their hearts out for you, and your applause means everything to them. If you feel like showing your appreciation, do it!

However, do your fellow symphony-goers a favor: talk to your neighbor or your date only before or after the performance or during intermission. We value your opinions and treasure your enthusiasm, but talking during the music itself is distracting to your fellow audience members and to the performers. And yes, please turn off your cell phones, electronic watches and pagers before the concert and after intermission. Top

How long are the concerts?

Most concerts are about two hours long, with a 15-20 minute intermission at the halfway point. Concert durations are listed in the “Performance Information” section for each individual concert: CSO and Pops. Top

How can I find out more about the music or composers?

No advance preparation is required, but if you want to know more about the music, artists or composers on a program:

• Attend Classical Conversations, which take place one hour prior to Friday and Saturday CSO concerts and are free to all ticketholders.
  
  
• Check out our online program notes
  
  
• Check out the audio clips on our CSO concert pages. Top

What happens at the beginning of a symphony concert?

The concertmaster (first chair of the violin section) will come onstage. The audience claps as a welcome, and as a sign of appreciation to all the musicians. After the orchestra tunes up, the conductor (and possibly a soloist) will come onstage. Everyone claps to welcome them, too. This is also a good moment to look at your program, so you can see the names of the pieces that will be played and their order. Then everything settles down and the music begins. Just listen and enjoy! Top

May I bring the kids?

Children under 6 should not attend CSO concerts. Some family-friendly Pops concerts, such as Holiday Pops, are suitable for children under 6. Call 513.381.3300 for information and recommendations. For the enjoyment of all patrons, ushers will assist patrons with young children to seats at the back of the auditorium. The CSO performs many educational concerts each season specifically designed for children of all ages. Top

Where do I park?

View complete parking information. Top

What about the safety of the neighborhood?

For your comfort and safety, security personnel are on duty in various locations around Music Hall 1 ½ hours prior to the concert until the last patron leaves Music Hall. A well-lit, security-monitored pedestrian walkway links the CET parking garage to Music Hall. View parking map. Please call us at 513.381.3300 or email us with any questions or concerns you may have. Top

May I take pictures?

Feel free to take as many pictures as you would like outside the building or in the lobby. The use of recording devices (including camera phones) is prohibited inside the auditorium during CSO and Pops performances. Pictures may be taken before or after the performance or during intermission, when the orchestra is not performing. We encourage you to post your photos and experiences on your favorite social media outlets. Top

What advice do you have for the first-time symphony attendee?

Going to the symphony for the first time can be one of the most wonderful musical and social experiences you could hope for.

• Expect to enjoy yourself! Let go of any preconceived notions you have about classical music or the concert experience. It doesn’t matter whether this is your first time or the 100th, everyone is here to experience the emotional thrill of great music in its purest form, performed by one of the world’s great orchestras.
  
  
• Recognize that classical music is all around us. From commercials to movie soundtracks, it’s part of your everyday life. Come to a concert and you may find that you recognize a tune or two from the exposure you’ve had all your life.
  
  
• Let the music trigger your emotions. Long before TV, movies and musicals, classical music composers have been writing music to express the full spectrum of human emotion, from love, joy, jealousy, fear, envy and triumphant exaltation. Just open your heart and your mind and let the music wash over you. Feel the rhythms; follow the music. Watch the musicians and the conductor, and see how they interact with each other. Notice how the music ebbs and flows, surging and powerful at some times, delicate and ephemeral at others, and everything in between.
  
  
• Check out our Meet the Musician profiles. Many musicians offer their own advice to first-timers. Top