Guide to Classical Music

Davies Symphony Hall

Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, within the historic War Memorialand Performing Arts Center, was built in 1980 to allow the San Francisco Symphony to expand. Since this time, the Symphony has grown to offer the longest performance schedule, serving the largest audience, of any performing arts organization in theBay Area.

The Hall’s modern design is visually elegant both inside and out and possesses acoustic qualities of brilliant depth and presence. A “cloud”canopy of clear panels suspended above the stage enables the acoustic space to be adjusted to suit the size of the Orchestra and audience, while adjustable fabric banners around the auditorium can alter the reverberation time from approximately one to two-and-one-half seconds.

The Wattis Room, a private dining room for major donors, makes the Symphony the only performing arts organization in San Francisco with the capacity to entertain formally on site. The Wattis Room comfortably accommodates up to100 people for a seated dinner and up to 150 for receptions.

Outside the Hall, a dramatic Henry Moore bronze sculpture, “Four Piece Reclining Figure”(1973), is displayed at the major intersection of Grove Street and Van Ness Avenue in the heart of San Francisco’s Civic Center.