Symphony Hall is a multi-purpose

performing arts The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which are the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. Perfo ...

venue, located at 75 North 2nd Street between North 3rd Street and East Washington Street in

downtown ''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business district ...

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1 ...

. Part of Phoenix Civic Plaza, the hall is bounded to the north by the West Building of the

Phoenix Convention Center The Phoenix Convention Center is an events venue in downtown Phoenix, Arizona located along East Monroe, East Washington, East Jefferson, North Second, North Third, and North Fifth Streets. It opened in 1972 and hosts national and regional conve ...

. The Hall is the home of the

Phoenix Symphony The Phoenix Symphony is an American symphony orchestra based in Phoenix, Arizona. The orchestra performs primarily at Phoenix Symphony Hall, and is the only full-time, professional orchestra in the state of Arizona. History Founded in 1947, the ...

Arizona Opera Arizona Opera is an opera company which operates in both Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. History Arizona Opera was established in 1971 as the Tucson Opera Company, under founding general director James P. Sullivan, and presented its first productio ...

, and Ballet Arizona, and the site of numerous other performances. It was built from 1969 to 1972 and was designed by

Charles Luckman Charles Luckman (May 16, 1909 – January 26, 1999) was an American businessman, property developer, and architect known for designing landmark buildings in the United States such as the Theme Building, Prudential Tower, Madison Square Garden, ...

in the

Brutalist style Brutalist architecture is an architectural style that emerged during the 1950s in the United Kingdom, among the reconstruction projects of the post-war era. Brutalist buildings are characterised by minimalist constructions that showcase the ba ...

. The Hall was renovated in 2004.

History

Symphony Hall was completed in 1972, as part of the Phoenix Civic Plaza, and quickly became the home of the People's Pops Concert founded in 1970 by Theresa Elizabeth Perez, Music Coordinator for the City of Phoenix (1969-1983), which has been performed at

Phoenix College Phoenix College (PC) is a public community college in Encanto, Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 1920, it is one of the oldest community colleges in the country. History The college was originally a part of the Phoenix Union High School and Junio ...

. Theresa's Children's Opera Series (

Help, Help, the Globolinks! ''Help, Help, the Globolinks!'' is an opera in four scenes by Gian Carlo Menotti with an original English libretto by the composer. It was commissioned by the Hamburg State Opera and first performed as ''Hilfe, Hilfe, die Globolinks!'' in a Ger ...

Noye's Fludde, and Beauty is Fled) were also presented at Symphony Hall. As well as being the home of the Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera and Ballet Arizona, it is also the site for

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

touring companies, a variety of dance productions, and appearances by popular entertainers, as well as the location for business seminars, and convention general sessions. In June 2004, a $18.5 million renovation took place, in conjunction with the construction of the neighboring

West Building. Symphony Hall now features 2,312 seats, with wood bases for better

acoustics Acoustics is a branch of physics that deals with the study of mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including topics such as vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acousticia ...

. Reconfigured main-floor cross aisles, additional

elevator An elevator or lift is a cable-assisted, hydraulic cylinder-assisted, or roller-track assisted machine that vertically transports people or freight between floors, levels, or decks of a building, vessel, or other structure. They ...

s and a new wheelchair seating section, greatly improve accessibility for patrons with disabilities and updates compliance with the

Americans with Disabilities Act The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 or ADA () is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. It affords similar protections against discrimination to Americans with disabilities as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ...

. There is a 60-foot x 100-foot (18.29m x 30.48m) stage area, high technology acoustical, lighting, rigging and sound systems, a Green Room, rehearsal hall and star, chorus and musicians dressing rooms. It has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride.

Transportation

Symphony Hall is served by the 3rd Street and Washington Street and 3rd Street and Jefferson Street METRO station. (Signs at the station denote that station as ''Convention Center'' but METRO maps only use the street intersection names.)

In popular culture

Phoenix Symphony Hall appears in the

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the " Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "'' Do ...

film '' The Gauntlet'' (1977), where it is used as the exterior of "Phoenix City Hall." Eastwood's bus crashes onto the steps of Symphony Hall at the climax of the movie. John Stewart's live album, ''

The Phoenix Concerts ''The Phoenix Concerts'' is a live album released in 1974, and it is the seventh solo album by folk musician John Stewart, former member of the Kingston Trio. It was recorded live at Phoenix Symphony Hall in Phoenix, Arizona, March 1974, and ...

'', was recorded there.

References

External links

City of Phoenix website
{{Authority control Music venues completed in 1972 Music venues in Arizona Music of Phoenix, Arizona Buildings and structures in Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix Points of Pride Tourist attractions in Phoenix, Arizona Del E. Webb buildings

History

Transportation

In popular culture

See also

References

External links