In a word, terrible. Truly one of the most awful c...

In a word, terrible. Truly one of the most awful concert halls I have ever been in. I really wish that the Toronto Symphony played elsewhere downtown or were able to build their own venue as the Canadian Opera Company and National Ballet did with the excellent Four Seasons Hall.

It all begins at the door. Do not get to the hall early. Even the doors to Simcoe Street (the main entrance) are frequently locked until 7 p.m. It is all worse if you happen to go to the occasional pre-concert chamber work. The reception is somewhat less friendly than US Immigration at Pearson Airport. You are made to wait in a stuffy hallway until the very last minute. Then, despite the fact that the pre-concert is free and you have shown your ticket for the main concert, you are given a new ticket - and this amid frequent expressions on the part of the partial usher team that "there are not enough tickets for everyone."

I have encountered friendly ushers at RTH, but they have been the exception rather than the rule. Mostly, they act as guards, preventing concert goers from entering the hall prior to it being open (generally 1/2 an hour before the concert). This is a bit of an inconvenience since there is very little seating in any of the lobbies and, hence, you are once again standing in a crowd. And, in all that time, the ushers rarely offer you a program.

Thank goodness the Toronto Symphony is such a fine orchestra! They have to overcome so many deficits playing in Roy Thomson Hall, it is a credit to their talent, endurance, hard work and love of art that they can have successful concerts in this venue.

Do I recommend go? Yes, to hear the Toronto Symphony, it is worth it. Support this great orchestra and let's all hope they find a new home in our city soon.