Live Concert FAQs
When should I arrive?
If you’re picking up tickets, please arrive at least half an hour before the performance starts. Arriving at this time provides enough time to check your coat, find your seat and enjoy some of the program notes before the concert begins.If you want more detailed information on what you’ll be hearing that night, be sure to join us for Inside the Music: Pre-Concert Talk series which begins at 6:30pm for all Mainstage performances.
Can I wear fragrances to a concert?
No, please keep our concert hall a fragrance-free space.
When should I applaud?
At orchestral music concerts, there are two reasons to applaud: as a greeting and to show appreciation. We invite audience members to applaud to greet the Concertmaster when they come onstage (our Concertmaster Stephen Sitarski is the violinist who sits in the first chair of the first row of the Orchestra) and again when the Conductor comes onstage. Any soloists who will be performing will usually come onstage with the Conductor. You’re invited to applaud again at the end of each piece of music, to show your appreciation to the performers.
Some longer pieces may have several sections, or movements, separated by a brief, silent pause. The audience does not applaud between the movements of a piece. The program will list the movements in each piece, so you will know how many there are; applause is usually reserved for the end of the last movement. If you’re not sure that it’s over just follow the rest of the audience or wait until the conductor turns around to bow.
Can I eat in the concert hall?
Food items may not be consumed during performances. Please consume snacks purchased at concessions outside of the concert hall.
Can I take photos with my cellphone or camera?
Yes, but only if it is silent, without flash and only when the orchestra is not playing, such as before or after the concert, or during a period of applause. Video and audio recording are strictly prohibited during the performance. Please be sure to put your phone on silent before the concert begins!
May I bring my young children to a concert?
Sharing the joy of orchestral music at a young age is a great way to foster an appreciation and interest in the arts. Children age five and older are welcome at any Mainstage concert at FirstOntario Concert Hall with a youth ticket purchase. For children aged 5 and younger, we recommend our Family Concert Series or performances at local libraries.