Curtis Institute of Music

Orchestra is top notch!

Amazing place to hear young talent and there are free music recitals on weekends. Although you may be the only person not related to the performers.

Many people have heard Brahms or Beethoven on the radio or played from a CD, but few things beat hearing them in person. Just a few blocks away from the Kimmel Center, the students of the Curtis Institute give free recitals on an almost-​daily basis in the Field Concert Hall at 1726 Locust. The audience is small (usually under 60 people) and the musicians are approachable — you can meet them (and their families and friends) in person after the recital or during intermission.
The selection varies, and encompasses all the instruments and disciplines taught at Curtis. There are the usual suspects, like violin, piano, and flute, but also instruments less heard in recitals, like brass. In total, the students give over 100 recitals in the course of an entire season, covering a broad range of classical and contemporary repertoire. Sometimes, the composer will be in the audience listening to their work being performed — which is just plain darned cool.
Discerning listeners and fellow musicians will realize that these student recitals are free for a reason — some of the students will blow you away, but others will sound like they were slightly ambitious in their choice of repertoire. But hey — when was the last time you heard live classical music from 20 feet away?

Absolutely blown away by everything, from the old-​fashioned concert hall to, of course, the caliber of the performers themselves. Definitely come for a free student recital; the students are of the same talent as world-​famous musicians, and you get to hear them personally and intimately in a beautiful recital hall with perfect acoustics so that you are surrounded by the most beautiful classical music ever. The recitals are 3+ times a week, so if you’re a chamber music or piano or classic music enthusiast, you’ll be able to find something you like!

I was here attending one of the school’s monthly free recitals! And the students did an amazing job!
If you’re a fan of classical music, and want to hear some beautiful instruments played skillfully, and don’t want to spend an arm and a leg to do so, then please go to Rittenhouse Square and ask them when their next recital is going to take place… Or y’know…check online, like what all the cool kids do these days.

Can’t believe after 10 years in Philly I just discovered this place.
The free students recitals the da bomb!
I went on a Friday evening 5 minutes prior to the recital so there weren’t any seats available. However, they have really nice HDTV’s outside in the lobby with nice sound systems so you can still experience the awesome music from the performance.
This is a much more intimate environment than the philly orchestra and I can’t wait to come back again

Unilocal says this school is permanently closed? What? The hell you say. Since when? I too, ‘took in’ a free classical student-​recital here once. Totally awesome experience. A Philadelphia institution. Combine it with some nearby pizza afterward and you are really livin’.

File this under «I’ve been living in Philly for _​_​years. Why have I not done this sooner?»
I am, of course, referring to the free student recitals that happen several times a week. Yes, free. Yes, recitals, But this isn’t Little Johnny Playing A Recorder. This is Johnny grew up and can play the #*$& out of a violin. Some serious talent gets up on the stage here.
Recitals last about two hours, and ten minutes is plenty of time to arrive to get a seat.

I love the free recitals. Wonderful place and great music!

Why wouldn’t you want to go hear free recitals by some of the most talented young musicians in the country?

A school with a delightful music hall for smaller concerts in Philadelphia, right off Rittenhouse Square (parking is a bear around here, I recommend getting into a lot), there are several small concert rooms that provide locations for people to sit in slightly older chairs that you can relax and listen to students and visiting musicians. Often free, these events are fairly consistently good, with students and sometimes teachers offering pieces that help to enrich and clear out the ears of the noise in Philadelphia.
The building itself has a slightly older feel, with rich wood paneling and stairs that disappear into darker hallways and the old-​style elevators for a building of its age. Most of the school is off-​limits to visitors, though, without a student or teacher that knows you to show you around.

I’ve lived five blocks from this amazing Music school for over a year and never once attended any of their free concerts. Well, now that I’m over that first step, you can expect to find me back here again and again.
Every week there are a variety of concerts held in their very own Field Concert Hall located inside their beautiful old building on the eastern side of Rittenhouse Square. The term I should use is actually «recital» and not «concert» because for the most part, the free performances you are seeing are either student or faculty recitals. There is definitely a more casual aire when you enter the theater as you can tell from the attire of the audience from suits to skater garb replete with long-​board sitting under their seat. Also, the performers often have a more informal relationship with the audience, addressing them sometimes between sets or to add a few remarks about the pieces they play.
And it’s hard as a performer to hide from anyone in this intimate concert hall. At my count I would say there are about 265 seats. The stage is raised high enough so that the person in front of you isn’t completely blocking your view. As a room, it is (to my ear) perfectly silent when all is still. There is very little echo and the sounds that emanate from the instruments ring true and clear. Take the time to stand at intermission as the seats are cushion, but not that comfortable.
For evening concerts, I would advise showing up at least 20 minutes ahead of time to get a decent seat. If you want to view — for example — the piano players hands, you’ll need to get there earlier to get a seat in direct line with the performer.
If you have a moment, step inside the building as it is a well preserved model of the architecture of its time (late 19^th Century). Full concert schedules are available and up-​to-​date on their website.

Budding musical prodigies need performance practice. Catch some young talent here for free concerts before paying through the nose to hear them play at world class venues.

Practice practice practice. Really some of the most amazing music teachers that also play for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Hilary Hahn & Lang Lang practiced here too.