Enjoying the Show At Our Performing Arts Center in Hartford, CT

Here at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, we are connecting tradition with innovation! When you choose to attend our concerts, you will experience performances by the most talented musicians in the region.

Attending a Hartford Symphony Orchestra concert is a great way to experience the musical talent and genres in your very own community, and attending a concert can be a fun activity to attend with friends and family. Orchestra tickets can be a fantastic gift for your loved ones or used as a weekend outing. No matter what the circumstances for your interest, we can promise a stunning experience you will remember for years to come. If you are new to the HSO and attending for the first time, we want to make sure you know what to expect when you attend a performance.

We can’t wait to welcome you to one of our performances. Here, you’ll find useful information about enjoying our outstanding orchestral performances to the fullest.

All HSO Venues Are ADA Compliant.

If you or a member of your party has any mobility or other special needs, please let us know so we can help you plan your concert attendance.

The HSO performs in facilities with elevators, ramps, special reserved seating, and removable seating. These facilities also have dedicated parking for persons with a State Handicapped Parking Permit.

The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts 

Learn more about accessibility at the Bushnell.

Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center (Talcott Mountain Music Festival)

Simsbury Meadows has accessible parking spaces, accessible portable restrooms, and an accessible paved pathway with patios on our field that better accommodate wheelchairs and motorized mobility equipment. Learn more about accessibility at Simsbury Meadows.

Help us help you by letting us know about any special needs you may have.

For more information, please call HSO Ticket Services at 860-987-5900, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

Health And Safety Protocols As Of September 15, 2023

For our 2023-2024 season, we would like to update you on our health and safety policies.

The HSO endorses the optional wearing of face masks at all indoor performances and strongly encourages up to date vaccination whenever possible. However this season we will not require masks at any of our performances.

While the Hartford Symphony Orchestra maintains its commitment to the importance of COVID-19 vaccination and encourages patrons to be up to date with their vaccinations based on their individual health requirements, patrons will not be required to present either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to attend events at The Bushnell.

Additionally, concessions will be open and food and beverages will be permitted within the theaters at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center for all performances.

Please be aware that HSO events at locations other than the Bushnell may have different requirements and protocols.

For the most up-to-date information on the COVID-19 pandemic and current government recommendations, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Prelude is HSO’s pre-concert guide which will be sent only in an electronic format to our subscribers, single-ticket holders, donors and any others who might be interested in some “insider information” about a piece, composer or artist that will be featured on the upcoming Masterworks program.

Prelude will not replace the excellent program notes in our concert program, but is written to offer some different – and hopefully fun – facts that will spark interest in the upcoming Masterworks program. It will be sent approximately a week in advance of the upcoming Masterworks program.

Please let us know what you think! If you know someone who might be interested in receiving Prelude, or you have feedback, please contact Ruth Sovronsky at rsovronsky@hartfordsymphony.org.

Have you ever wondered what inspired Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1, or how exactly a theme and variations works? What about the intricacies of Berlioz’s orchestration or the historical significance of Stravinsky’s body of works? Masterworks Pre-Concert Talks provide the chance to find out. Join Music Director Carolyn Kuan, guest conductors, and Hartford Symphony Orchestra musicians as they offer engaging presentations about the works, the composers and historic perspectives of the concert that lies ahead. These 30 minute pre-concert presentations take place in the concert hall one hour prior to each Masterworks Series concert and are open to all ticket holders.

At select Masterworks Series performances, the HSO showcases the bright future of classical music. Student ensembles perform on the second-floor lobby of Belding Theater for 25 minutes between the pre-concert talk and the start of the HSO performance. Concertgoers are invited to linger for a moment or to sit and stay for the duration to enjoy these student performances.

Know Before You Go

Our lobby opens 2 hours before each performance. Patrons are strongly encouraged to arrive at least 1 hour early to leave ample time for parking, moving through security, and finding their seat(s). Latecomers will be seated at management’s discretion.
There is a coat check at the theatre on lobby level, opposite the security checkpoint.

Attend the FREE pre-concert talk with Maestro Kuan or special guest one hour before our Masterworks concerts!

Bring your smartphone to access our digital Playbill- don’t forget to silence it! Feel free to snap photos during the performance and share the excitement on social media! But no flash photography and no video or audio recording, please. Connect to the internet using “Free Bushnell Wi-Fi” for better service within the theater.

Grab a drink or snack from one of our convenient bar/café locations the bars available throughout The Bushnell’s lobbies 2 hours before the performance, and feel free to bring them to your seat.  

Light fare is available at The Bushnell’s Café, located in the Box Office. View sample cafe menu. For additional dining options, please view our dining partners page.  

Applaud when you like what you hear – don’t worry about the “right” time!  Some seasoned concertgoers will hold their applause until the end of a piece, which may consist of three or more “movements.” The conductor’s body language will signal that a piece has ended: They will drop their arms to their side.   

Wear what you want – be comfortable. While some concertgoers do dress up, you are welcome to wear what makes you feel at your best. 

All bags are subject to inspection and all guests will go through a metal detector before entering the theatre. No weapons of any kind are allowed. Theatre management reserves the right to prohibit items as necessary. Review the Bushnell’s Guest Services and Policies. 

We’re here to help! If you have any questions about the performance, theatre experience, or accommodations, please e-mail us at info@hartfordsymphony.org or call 860-987-5900. 

Seating Charts