City Recital Hall, Sydney

In the room

The experience

City Recital Hall is the chamber-music answer to Sydney Opera House. Tucked between two CBD skyscrapers in a laneway off Pitt Street, the 1999 shoebox seats 1,238 across three steep balconies of pale timber, closer in feel to Wigmore Hall than to the Opera House Concert Hall. Australian Brandenburg Orchestra residencies anchor the early-music programme. The laneway entrance is hung with Michael Thomas Hill's Forgotten Songs, 120 birdcages playing recorded calls of birds locally extinct from central Sydney. Listening to the cages before the gig is part of the gig.

Gallery

Four frames

A curved staircase in the hall's foyer — Jason7825, Public domain

A glass-fronted tower at night in Angel Place — Jason7825, Public domain

A singer standing at a microphone on the dark stage — Bruce Baker from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0

A brick and glass tower seen from below in Angel Place, Sydney — Jason7825, Public domain

Insider tip

Walk in knowing

Stop in Angel Place laneway under the Forgotten Songs installation before the concert. The birdcage soundscape is the prelude.

Why it fits

Why it is in the atlas

Acoustically the best room in Sydney for chamber music. Intimate, intentional, built for purpose.

Plan the trip

When to go, hours, getting there

Best time to go

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra residencies run year-round, Wednesday and Friday evenings the main programme. Sydney Festival in January features international chamber programming.

Hours

Box office Monday to Friday 09:30 to 17:30, Saturday 12:00 to 17:30. Performances most evenings during the main season.

Getting there

Train to Wynyard or Martin Place, three-minute walk. The hall sits inside Angel Place, a laneway connecting Pitt Street and George Street. From Circular Quay, ten-minute walk.

Straight from the source

Official site and tickets

Official site and tickets →

Dates and tickets come from the venue itself. Opens cityrecitalhall.com in a new tab.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Where is City Recital Hall?

City Recital Hall is in Sydney (Angel Place), Australia. Coordinates: -33.8676, 151.2092.

What kind of music is at City Recital Hall?

City Recital Hall programmes Chamber, Baroque, Early Music, Jazz. 1999 chamber shoebox tucked into Angel Place between two skyscrapers. The only purpose-built concert venue in Sydney since the Opera House. Australian Brandenburg Orchestra home.

When is the best time to visit City Recital Hall?

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra residencies run year-round, Wednesday and Friday evenings the main programme. Sydney Festival in January features international chamber programming.

How do I get to City Recital Hall?

Train to Wynyard or Martin Place, three-minute walk. The hall sits inside Angel Place, a laneway connecting Pitt Street and George Street. From Circular Quay, ten-minute walk.

Why is City Recital Hall in the Sonic Paths atlas?

Acoustically the best room in Sydney for chamber music. Intimate, intentional, built for purpose.

On the atlas

Where it sits

-33.8676, 151.2092 · Open in OpenStreetMap

Nearest on the atlas

Three rooms close by

Concert Hall

Sydney Opera House

Sydney, Australia · about 1 km away

A band on stage under bright lights in front of a screen reading Brian Wilson

Festival

Bluesfest Byron Bay

Tyagarah, Australia · about 630 km away

Bar

Northcote Social Club

Melbourne, Australia · about 710 km away

Stay

Book somewhere to stay nearby

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