Kleinhans Music Hall, completed in 1940 at 3 Symphony Circle in Buffalo, is a National Historic Landmark and the home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen — the father-and-son architecture team — the hall is considered one of the finest concert venues in the United States for classical music, with acoustics that have been studied and admired by sound engineers for more than eight decades.
The Design
The Saarinen design is a masterwork of mid-century modernism — a curved, flowing exterior that anticipates Eero’s later work at the TWA Terminal and the Gateway Arch. Inside, the 2,839-seat Mary Seaton Room is engineered for orchestral performance, with a natural warmth and clarity that amplified concerts also benefit from. The smaller 862-seat Livingston Hall handles chamber music and recitals.
The BPO
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is the hall’s primary tenant and the reason the building was constructed. Under Music Director JoAnn Falletta (1999-present), the BPO has earned multiple Grammy Awards and a national reputation that far exceeds what most people expect from a mid-size city orchestra. Hearing the BPO at Kleinhans is one of the premier classical music experiences in the Northeast.
Getting There
Kleinhans is at Symphony Circle (where Richmond Avenue meets Pennsylvania Street) in Buffalo’s Elmwood Village. Street parking is available on surrounding blocks, and the Elmwood Avenue corridor offers walkable dining options.
Nearby
- Elm Street Bakery — Artisan bakery and cafe, Elmwood Village.
- Thin Man Brewery (Elmwood) — Craft beer and food. Walking distance.