Music Center

The Music Center serves as the premier performing arts center of Los Angeles County and is one of the three largest and most highly regarded centers in the United States. The Music Center complex, in partnership with the County of Los Angeles, opened its doors in 1964. The original complex had three venues including the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Ahmanson Theatre and the smaller Mark Taper Forum. Then in 2003, the Music Center opened the Walt Disney Concert Hall—home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Other resident performing arts companies include the Center Theatre Group, LA Opera and Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Operating with a mission to building civic vitality by strengthening the community through the arts, the Music Center sees more than one million visitors each year and offers a wide variety of theater, dance, and musical arts programs for visitors of all ages. The Music Center offers a wide range of free arts programming for children and families including the Blue Ribbon Children's Festival, Very Special Arts Festival, and World City—which features internationally renowned artists sharing their culture through dance, music, song and storytelling.

The Music Center also offers full season of dance programming featuring the world's most illustrious dance companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Kirov Ballet of the Mariinsky Theatre, and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. The program provides learning opportunities at the Center and throughout the county for adults and children as well as free and low-cost tickets, open rehearsals, school lecture and more.

In addition to the live performances and educational programs, visitors enjoy self or guided tours of the four buildings, gardens, plaza and the five restaurants. The architectural history and design aspects of this visually stunning center operate in with a harmonious energy to be marveled. Guided tours of the facility run about 1-hour and are offered at noon and 1 p.m. on most days. Or, take the symphony tour and visit all four of the Music Center venues. Symphony tours take approximately 1.5 hours and are offered on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and at 12:30 p.m.  You can also take a free self-guided audio tour of the Walt Disney Concert hall on most days at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

While enjoying your visit to the Music Center purchase snacks and drinks at the Concert Hall Café or for lunch or dinner, visit one of the restaurants including Patina, Fifth Floor and Kendall’s Brasserie—all located in the Center. Visit the website for a listing of upcoming performances and to purchase tickets. Also, follow the Center on Twitter and Facebook for more information on current events and specials.

HelloLosAngeles Tip: For some other great entertainment and attractions in the Los Angeles area, visit HelloLosAngels where you’ll find information on the Hollywood Bowl Museum, the Getty Villa, Hollywood Walk of Fame and much more.

- by Jennifer Pruett, Los Angeles Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Jennifer Pruett

A self proclaimed “queen of everything," Jennifer is a writer, planner and passionate lover of making exciting events extra special. As a creative mother of two she loves art, music, family, friends, exotic cuisine and exploring new areas of self improvement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies from the University of Oklahoma and has been writing restaurant and attraction reviews in the Phoenix Metro area since January, 2009.