The Sydney Symphony is your orchestra. Whether you’re new to the Sydney Symphony or a seasoned concert-goer, we want you to get the most out of your experience.
If you haven’t been to an orchestral concert before here are a few tips on what to expect.
For information about venues, getting to your concert, parking and accessibility etc, visit the planning your concert page.
Q. Is there any information I can read in advance about the concert I’m attending?
You don't need formal knowledge of music to enjoy a Sydney Symphony performance, but you can find out more about the music being performed by reading our concert programs. These are available for download on our website’s concert page within the week of each performance, and printed copies are also available for free at the concert.
You can also go along to any of the free pre-concert talks. These begin 45 minutes before most Sydney Opera House and City Recital Hall performances. Check the concert event page for more information and to find out who's speaking.
Q. Is there a dress code?
We encourage concert-goers to feel comfortable when attending a concert.
Some people enjoy getting dressed up for a night at the concert hall, or while others come in business attire, especially for weeknight performances. On the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with jeans. If you dress as if you were going out to dinner, you won’t feel out of place.
Q. How large is the orchestra?
The Sydney Symphony is Australia’s largest and busiest symphony orchestra, with 96 full-time musicians giving more than 100 performances each year across Sydney and New South Wales. The Orchestra was established in1932, the same year as another Sydney icon – the Harbour Bridge – was completed. The orchestra rehearses and performs in the 2716-seat Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, its home since 1973, and performs to a combined audience of 400,000 each year throughout NSW.
Q. How do I get to a Sydney Symphony concert?
Depending on the concert venue your, you will find all the details on parking, public transport and accessibility by visiting the following:
Your guide to getting to the Sydney Opera House
Your guide to getting to the City Recital Hall Angel Place
Q. When is the best time to clap?
There are two reasons to applaud at a Sydney Symphony performance – as a greeting and as appreciation. In orchestral concerts it's become traditional to applaud only at the very end of each work. A lot of the music we play is made up of several distinct sections ('movements') with brief pauses between, and most concertgoers have discovered that it's usually better to remain quiet during these pauses so the mood of the music is not broken.
The conductor's and musicians’ body-language will usually signal when it's time to clap, but if you’re still not sure, wait for other people to start. If what’s happening on stage seems mysterious, don’t worry: these rituals have evolved over time and are part of the tradition and fun of orchestral performance.
Q. Where can get a drink or meal before a concert?
Make it an occasion to remember and enjoy a meal or drinks before the performance. There are many great restaurants, bars and cafes in the area around the Sydney Opera House offering a range of cuisines and styles from contemporary fine dining to casual bistro food and several of them offer discounts to subscribers or special packages that combine dinner and a concert. Several bars in the foyers of the Concert Hall serve pre-concert and interval refreshments.
Q. How can I hear about upcoming concerts, special offers and pre-sale bookings?
Sign up to our fortnightly e-newsletter, Stay Tuned for all this and more.
Q. Are there orchestral concerts that are suitable for children?
It’s great to introduce your kids to live orchestral music and we welcome children at all our concerts, but please note that some programs may be too long for children under the age of eight. Our Meet the Music series, is a great way to introduce older children to concert-going, and we often see high-school aged children at the Discovery series as well. Both these series begin at 6.30pm and include some spoken presentation.
Depending on the programming from season to season, you might want to consider concerts in the Great Classics series on Saturday afternoons, early evening performances in the Mondays @ 7 (formely Veuve Clicquot) series, or even the shorter small-orchestra concerts from the Mozart in the City series. Look for programs where there are several shorter works rather than a single long work.
if you'd like to ask about the suitability of a particular concert, feel free to call our box office.
Each year we also give outdoor concerts with popular programs in venues such as Sydney’s Domain, Sydney Olympic Park and Parramatta Park. These are great, relaxed ways to introduce children to the Sydney Symphony and the music we play.
In addition, our Education Program runs concerts for schoolchildren of all ages. If you are a teacher or home-schooler visit our Education page or write to education@sydneysymphony.com.
Q. What about security? Can I take a bag to the opera house?
The safety of our audience is very important to both the Sydney Symphony and the Sydney Opera House. As a rule, all items larger than the size of an A4 sheet of paper (approximately 21cm x 30cm) must be checked into the Sydney Opera House’s complimentary cloakroom facilities. However, whenever possible, more personal items such as handbags may be exempt and allowed into the Concert Hall, at the discretion of Sydney Opera House's Security.
Please allow sufficient time when checking your bag. We appreciate your cooperation and assistance in maintaining a safe environment at the Sydney Opera House. City Recital Hall Angel Place also has a complimentary cloakroom for your convenience.
Q. Are there any do’s and don’ts I need to know about?
We want you to enjoy yourselves at our concerts, but we do ask:- that you consider other patrons' enjoyment at performances. Coughing during performances disturbs everyone's appreciation. Concert halls are designed for optimum acoustics, so an unmuffled cough will be heard in all areas of the auditorium and is distracting for musicians and soloists as well as listeners.
Cough lozenges are available from the Concert Hall foyer bars before each Sydney Opera House performance, and at interval. Please refrain from unwrapping sweets during a performance. If you think you'll require cough lozenges, we suggest you unwrap individual lozenges prior to the performance or when the audience is applauding.
Please ensure that pagers, mobile telephones and alarm watches are switched off. If you are expecting an urgent message, please leave your pager and your seat number with the House Manager, who will deliver your message at an appropriate break.
Taking of photographs or recordings of any kind is a breach of copyright. All venues are smoke-free environments.
Q: What happens if I arrive late to a concert?
Unfortunately we are unable to seat latecomers, or patrons seeking readmission to the Concert Hall, until the first interval or a suitable break in the program. Other conditions of entry are published and available at the point of purchase and on the back of your tickets.
Q. What time will the concert finish?
Concert times vary for each performance. Concert times are updated on the event page of each concert at least one week prior to the event as are electronic copies of the concert program.
Any other questions?
If you can’t find the answer to a query you have in the list above, feel free to call us on (02) 8215 4600, open 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri.