Symphony at the Meyerson - Know Before You Go
© The Flash List
If your last experience with orchestra was of the “Electric Light” variety or was a junior high school band recital, then you may have a pleasant surprise in store. Just think ‘movie music.’ Reminiscent of Indiana Jones, Titanic, or even The Lion King, the sounds of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra elicit a strong emotional response that can seem to transport you to another place and time.
Wherever you find yourself, be assured you'll arrive there in style. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2009, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center is regal indeed. But despite the elegance of its marble floors and glass walls, the Meyerson is comfortable and relaxed with a staff that is casual, friendly, and extremely helpful.
Doors to the concert hall open thirty minutes before the performance, so be sure to go early to find your seat, soak in the ambience, and read over your program. There you can find a list of symphony rules such as no talking during the performance and no unwrapping cough drops or rifling through your purse. Keep in mind that the music in some parts of the show can be very soft, so talking babies, beeping watch alarms, and even a growling stomach may seem louder than usual.
If you’d like to eat before the show, the Meyerson serves dinner at two restaurants, Opus (fine dining and Sunday brunch) and Allegro (light dining). Bars are also set up in these areas so you may purchase bottled water, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages before the show or during the fifteen minute or so intermission. Don’t worry too much about losing track of time during the break though, as you will hear bells chime overhead to let you know when it’s time to make your way back to your seat.
While having a broad knowledge of any topic generally gives one a better appreciation of it, we don’t feel that a degree in music or even much of a study of it is required in order to enjoy the symphony. Just a love of music and consideration for the talents of others are all that’s really needed to find yourself hooked on the ‘symphonic.’
Etiquette
DON’T CLAP BETWEEN MOVEMENTS!!
Some pieces of music have ‘sections’ known as ‘movements’. It is proper to only clap at the end of the entire piece, rather than after each section (even though the band takes a noticeable pause to readjust). For instance, you may see something like this in your program:
Southern Harmony for Wind Ensemble (1998) …. by Donald Grantham
I. The Midnight Cry
II. Wondrous Love
III. Exhilaration
IV. The Soldier’s Return
Only clap at the end of “The Soldier’s Return”, which marks the end of Southern Harmony. Don’t clap after each movement.
Dress for Women
Outfits cover a very wide range including dressy dresses, cocktail dresses, casual dresses, lots of dress pants (mostly black) with sweaters or nice shirts, and even some jeans with nice shirts or jackets.
Dress for Men
Also a wide range of attire including tuxes, suits, sport coats, dress pants with nice shirts, and jeans with dress shirts or jackets.
Parking
Hall Arts Center Garage: $10.00 per event, Cathedral Garage: $5.00 per event, Star Parking on Olive Street: $10.00 per event, One Arts Plaza: $5.00, Valet: $20.00 per event on both levels. See parking map below.
Tours
Free public tours of the Meyerson are available on selected Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 1:00 PM, and once a month a free 30 minute recital demonstration of the center’s impressive 4,535 pipe concert organ is presented to the public with a tour following. Reservations are not required.
Navigating
If you enter the Meyerson from the Dallas Arts District Garage and find yourself on the lower level near the Symphony Store, just look to the right and take the large stairway up. Elevators are also available, as the entrance to the concert hall is upstairs.
Map
* Note: There is now additional parking available east of Leonard Street in and around the AT&T Performing Arts Center.
Meyerson Symphony Center - Information
Information
The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center is regal indeed, but it's also comfortable and relaxed with a staff that is casual, friendly, and extremely helpful.
Meyerson Symphony Center - Seating
FlashPoints Reviews
An extensive collection of tips from volunteer ushers along with a good deal of our own personal experience and thoughts regarding on seating options.
Meyerson Symphony Center - Reviews
FlashPoints Reviews
Read reviews of currently running and/or previous productions performed by The Dallas Symphony and the Dallas Wind Symphony at the Meyerson Symphony Center.
