America's best classical music venues

From New York City to Atlanta, from Yale University to Phoenix, Arizona, here are 15 of the most stunning venues to hear concerts and operas in the United States.

1. 

   1. New York City: Carnegie Hall

   America's most famous concert hall officially opened in 1891 with a concert conducted in part by Tchaikovsky. Famous works that have had their world premières here include Dvorak's 'New World Symphony' and George Gershwin's 'An American in Paris'.

2. 

   2. Los Angeles: Walt Disney Concert Hall

   Designed by the acclaimed architect Frank Gehry, Walt Disney Concert Hall is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The auditorium seats more than 2,000 and is one of the world's most acoustically sophisticated concert venues.

3. 

   3. St. Louis: Powell Symphony Hall

   Situated in the Missouri port city, this hall was originally built in 1925 as a Vaudeville theatre and is now home to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, . It's said to be haunted by a ghost called George who tinkers with the lights and elevators. Carl Stalling, composer for the Looney Tunes cartoons, began his career here as an organist.

4. 

   4. Cleveland: Severance Hall

   The Cleveland Orchestra has been the resident orchestra since this Ohio venue's opening in February 1931. The building even made an appearance in the 1997 Harrison Ford film 'Air Force One', in which it played the palace of the President of Kazakhstan.

5. 

   5. Philadelphia: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

   Opened in 2001, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Philadelphia Orchestra, one of America's Big Five symphony orchestras. It is also the resident venue for the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society.

7. 

   6. Glendale: Alex Theater

   Built in 1925, this Californian, Art Deco-style masterpiece originally showcased Vaudeville performances, plays and silent movies. Today it is the home of the Glendale Youth Orchestra and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Photo: Tony the Marine

8. 

   7. Kansas City: Kaufmann Center for Performing Arts

   Part of a major regeneration of downtown Kansas City, the Kauffman Center is home to the Kansas City Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and the Kansas City Ballet. It also offers specific programmes to connect with the youth in the area. Photo: Burdettekevin

9. 

   8. Boston: New England Conservatory Jordan Hall

   With its superb acoustic, Jordan Hall has played a central role in the musical life of New England since 1903. It hosts performances by the world's leading soloists and ensembles interspersed with New England Conservatory recitals and concerts.

10. 

    9. New York City: Metropolitan Opera House

    The Met opened at New York's Lincoln Center in 1966. In addition to its brilliant acoustics, it is the first opera house in the world to feature individual screens for audience members that display subtitles of the text in English, Spanish, or German.

11. 

    10. New Haven: Yale University Woolsey Hall

    Built in 1901 to commemorate Yale University’s bicentennial, the Woolsey Hall is used for performances by the Philharmonia Orchestra of Yale, as well as recitals on the Newberry Memorial Organ, one of the world’s largest and most renowned pipe organs.

13. 

    11. Nashville: Schermerhorn Symphony Center

    This recent addition to Tennessee's cultural life is a 21st century neo-classical hall which seats more than 1,800. It was formally dedicated with a gala concert by the resident Nashville Symphony, conducted by Leonard Slatkin. It is one of the few concert halls in the world to enjoy natural light. Photo: Schermerhorn Symphony Center

14. 

    12. Phoenix: Orpheum Theatre

    This 1920s Arizona theatre was built in a Spanish Baroque style with intricate murals to give patrons the impression that they were enjoying the shows 'al fresco'. After a 12-year, $14 million restoration, the Orpheum reopened in 1997. The jewel of downtown Phoenix, the historic Orpheum Theatre now provides an eclectic mix of live music, comedy, theatre, dance and national touring acts.

15. 

    13. Salt Lake City: Tabernacle

    Built at a time before electronics and audio amplifiers, the Salt Lake Tabernacle was constructed with remarkable acoustics so that the entire congregation could hear sermons given there. A pin dropped at the pulpit can reportedly be heard at the back of the hall. Today it's home to the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir and one of the world's greatest organs with 11,623 pipes.

16. 

    14. Chicago: Ardis Krainik Theater

    The 3,563-seat Art Deco Lyric Opera of Chicago was renamed the Ardis Krainik Theatre in 1996 to honour the American mezzo-soprano who went on to be General Director of the company for 15 years. It is the second largest auditorium in North America.

17. 

    15. Atlanta: Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center

    Georgia's new $145 million arts complex in Atlanta is a world-class venue for ballets, musicals, and concerts. Its first resident company is the Atlanta Opera, which opened its residency with Puccini's Turandot. The complex also includes a 10,000 square foot ballroom and a car park for 1,000 vehicles. Photo: J. Glover, Atlanta, Georgia

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