In January 2009 I decided to see how many concerts I could see in New York for under $100. This column was
the result. As a follow-up, here is a guide to cheap seats at classical
institutions around the world. (Prepared with assistance from Billy
Robin.)
Print listings w/ info on ticket prices: Time Out NY, Time Out Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times, Orange County Register's Arts on the Cheap, The Stranger (Seattle), Time Out London
Web listings: ionarts, San Francisco Classical Voice, Classical Voice of North Carolina, South Florida Classical Review, the Rambler's New Music on a Shoestring (London)
Discounts, cheap seats, student prices:
New York:
Metropolitan Opera: $25 weekend tickets, $20 rush tickets, other discounts including $15 Family Circle
New York Philharmonic: $16 open rehearsals, $12 student rush tickets
Juilliard: Free lunchtime concerts most Tuesdays, numerous free or cheap events listed in their calendar.
Frick Collection: All concerts $30/$25
Le Poisson Rouge: Most shows $10-20
Issue Project Room: Most shows $15
New Amsterdam: Many cheap new-music events in calendar
Peoples' Symphony Concerts: Single tickets $10-18
Bargemusic: $20 student tickets
BAM: $10 student rush, $10 senior rush
Symphony Space: $15-25 student and senior tickets
Orchestra of St. Luke's: $10 student rush, $5 off senor discount
Church-music listings via the New York Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
New Music listings at SoundArt
MOMA Summergarden (free)
Northeast summer festivals:
Caramoor: $15 tickets available for most concerts
Glimmerglass: 50% off student discount
Tanglewood: Lawn tickets from $9 (lawn free for children under 17), $17 open rehearsals
Bard SummerScape: $5 student tickets
Norfolk has $15 tickets available for most concerts and a number of free performances
Chicago:
Chicago Lyric Opera: $20 student tickets available by signing up
Chicago Opera Theater: $15 student tickets available by signing up
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: $10-$15 student tickets, $20 rush for seniors
Chicago Opera Vanguard: $40-50 subscriptions, $30 for students
UChicago Presents: $5 or $10 student tickets
Grant Park: Free performances in the summer
Pick Staiger: Tickets under $10 for general public, $4 for students; sometimes free
Southern California:
LA Phil: $10 student and senior rush tickets
LA Opera: $20 student rush, 50% off senior rush tickets
UCLA Live: Up to 75% off for UCLA and other students
LA Chamber Orchestra: $10 student rush
Pacific Symphony: $10-20 student tickets
La Jolla Music Society: $7 rush student tickets
La Jolla Symphony: $15-18 student tickets
San Diego Symphony: $10 last-minute tickets
Boston:
Boston Symphony: Free tickets for college students on select nights, $9 rush tickets available during the week, and discounted open rehearsals
Boston Lyric Opera: 50% off student tickets
Boston Philharmonic: $8 student and senior rush tickets
New England Conservatory: Free student performances
Celebrity Series: $20 rush tickets
Collage New Music: $15 single tickets, students free
San Francisco (with thanks to Lisa Hirsch):
SF Symphony: $20 rush tickets
SF Opera: $25 student rush, $30 senior rush, $30 military rush
Generally free concerts at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Stanford, Cal State East Bay, Mills College, San Francisco State, and UC Berkeley
Old First Concerts: $15 general admission, $12 for students and seniors
D.C. / Baltimore:
Kennedy Center (including the Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra): Discount program for ages 17-25; 50% off discount available to students, seniors, and other qualifying groups
Baltimore Symphony: For students, $10 tickets or a 5-for-$40 deal; $20 unreserved seats
Other American orchestras:
Cleveland: $10 student tickets
Philadelphia: For students, $8 rush tickets or a $25 season pass
St. Louis: For students, $10 tickets or a 6-for-$55 deal; half-price senior rush and opportunities for free tickets
New Jersey: $10 student tickets (or $25 for a full season pass); 30% off senior rush
Atlanta: $10 student tickets
Cincinnati: $10 student tickets and 25% off for seniors and military
Phoenix: $10 student rush, college season pass for $30
Utah Symphony / Opera: Student tickets from $6
Columbus: $5 tickets for high-school students; $10 for college students
Grand Rapids: $5 student tickets
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra: $10 tickets for age 20-39; $10 student rush; $3 off senior discount
Minnesota Orchestra: $10 student tickets; other discounts
Other American opera companies:
Kansas City Opera: $10 student tickets
Seattle Opera: $20 student rush tickets, $5 teen tickets, various other discounts
Portland Opera: $10 rush tickets for students, seniors, military
Fort Worth Opera: 50% off for students and military
Houston Grand Opera: $10 student matinées
Cincinnati Opera: $10 student rush
Canada:
Montreal Symphony: $10 student tickets; $15 for ages 15-30
U.K.:
LSO: Student tickets from £5-13 and a rewards program for bringing other students
Scottish Opera: £10 tickets for people under 26
Royal Scottish National Orchestra: £5 tickets under 26; anyone under 16 gets in free
London Philharmonic: Student tickets from £1-4; £8 for under 26
City of Birmingham Symphony: £4 student rush tickets; discount standby tickets also available
Hallé Orchestra: Student tickets for £2.50
Royal Opera House at Covent Garden: £15 tickets available for students, under-18, and others
English National Opera: Stand-by tickets for students, seniors, under-16, and others from £10
Germany:
Berlin Philharmonic: Standing room tickets starting at 8€
Berlin Staatsoper: Tickets starting at 5€, discount cards available
Deutsche Oper Berlin: Student, military rush tickets for €13.50 and other discounts
Dresden Semperoper: 10€ student tickets; tickets starting at 4€
Bayerische Staatsoper (Munich): 10€ student tickets and other discounts
Bavarian Radio Symphony: 8€ student tickets
Bamberger Symphoniker: 7.50€ tickets for under 18, students, and military
Rest of Europe:
Czech Philharmonic: 50% off for seniors and students; 50 CZK student tickets
La Scala: Student and senior discount tickets from 8.50€
Wiener Staatsoper: standing room from 3€
Helsinki Philharmonic: 6€ student tickets and other discounts
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra: 10€ rush tickets for under-28
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra: 80SEK student tickets
Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich: 20CHF tickets for under-25 and students
