David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center Tours

Opened in 1962, David Geffen Hall is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Home to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO), and a stage for other concerts, film premieres, and galas, the venue draws fans of culture, mid-century modern design, and classical music.

 

The striking David Geffen Hall (formerly called the Philharmonic Hall, then the Avery Fisher Hall) centers on a rectangular 2,738-seat auditorium. From September through June, the hall puts on regular concerts by the NYPO—one of the world’s oldest symphony orchestras—as well as jazz shows, operas, and other events.

The ideal way to experience David Geffen Hall is to attend a NYPO concert. For the best seat selection, purchase your ticket online in advance. Guided tours of Lincoln Center are available; or, just stroll around Lincoln Center Plaza to admire the hall and see neighboring venues such as the Metropolitan Opera House.

David Geffen Hall stands at 10 Lincoln Center Plaza between West 62nd and West 65th streets, and is easily reached by subway: take the 1 train to 66th Street–Lincoln Center station, or the A, B, C, or D train to 59th Street–Columbus Circle. The M5, M7, M10, M11, M20, M66, and M104 buses also stop nearby. Lincoln Center offers indoor parking, with entrances on 62nd and 65th streets.

The hall typically hosts around three NYPO shows each week during the concert season, with evening performances usually starting at 7:30pm and matinees at 2pm. Get there at least 30 minutes before start time. Visitors are also welcome to attend open rehearsals, normally held in the morning.

Make sure to check out the hall’s Grand Promenade. The 2nd-floor corridor boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with stellar views of Lincoln Center, the fountained Josie Robertson Plaza, and the Upper West Side. There and in the lobby, you’ll also see assorted artwork, including a 1909 bust of composer Gustav Mahler by Rodin.