Steinmetz Hall has once again been named one of the world’s most remarkable theaters — this time by National Geographic.
The venue at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts was placed on a list of “esteemed theatres around the world that are well worth a visit” this month by Nat Geo. Previously, Steinmetz Hall was named one of the 11 “most beautiful theaters in the world” by Architectural Digest.
The only other U.S. theater on Nat Geo’s shortlist of nine is the Citizens Opera House in Boston, saluted for “its abundance of Carrara marble, gold and silk.”
Other venues honored include the 1888 Burgtheater in Vienna, Austria, which features Gustav Klimt paintings; the nature-inspired Harbin Grand Theatre in Harbin, China; the Minack Theatre, an amphitheater carved into the granite cliffs of Cornwall, England; the glass-domed Smetana Hall, in Prague’s Municipal House, where sculptures inspired by Czech legends guard the stage; Mexico City’s Palacio Bellas Artes, with its “curtain” made from a million pieces of Tiffany glass; the Teatro Amazonas in Manaus, Brazil, which boasts a floor made of 12,000 pieces of different Amazonian woods; and the Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto, Japan, with an interior Nat Geo described as “an explosion of opulence.”
The list was compiled to provide suggestions for globetrotters looking for the world’s top theaters while the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a theater in Athens built in AD 161, is closed for extensive renovations.
“To see National Geographic highlight us alongside historic venues in Athens, Vienna and Kyoto validates what we’ve always believed: Orlando deserves world-class performing arts,” said Kathy Ramsberger, president and CEO of the Dr. Phillips Center.
In writing about Steinmetz Hall, National Geographic highlighted its copper handrails and cherry wood trim, but gave special mention to the fact the venue is one of the world’s most acoustically advanced theaters. It has been rated N1, meaning any ambient noise is at the threshhold of human hearing. In other words, the hall is basically impervious to any noise bleed.
“We built Steinmetz Hall to give Central Florida audiences something truly exceptional — acoustics that rival any concert hall in the world,” Ramsberger said. “The N1 acoustic rating puts us in rare company globally, and the multiform designs mean we can adapt the space for everything from chamber music to full orchestras.”
Steinmetz Hall is known for its N1 acoustic rating. (Orlando Sentinel file photo)
The space’s adaptability — with mechanical maneuvering, it can be a proscenium theater, an in-the-round concert hall or a flat-floored event space — has led to heavy use since it opened Jan. 14, 2022.
Since then, it has hosted everything from million-dollar weddings to wrestling matches to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Statistics compiled by the arts center show that more than 409,000 guests have taken in more than 500 performances and events in Steinmetz Hall, which has seen 33 different seating configurations and more than 35,000 meals served during special events.
Upcoming performances show off its versatility: Writer-humorist David Sedaris, the Dancing for Diabetes showcase, renowned violinist Augustin Hadelich, children’s show “Dog Man: The Musical,” a “Classic Albums Live” performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album; and an evening with Phil Rosenthal, the award-winning creator of “Somebody Feed Phil” and “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
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Named for local philanthropists Charles “Chuck” and Margery Pabst Steinmetz, the venue is also home to most performances of the Orlando Ballet, Opera Orlando and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.
In the National Geographic article, available online at nationalgeographic.com, arts-center executive vice president Spencer Tong gives music lovers a tip on where to sit in Steinmetz Hall.
The “Grand Celebration” opening ceremony for Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts took place on Jan. 14, 2022. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
“It’s the Grand Tier,” Tong said. “You’ll experience the acoustics at their very best. The reverberation and richness converge into a sound that feels truly alive.”
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https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/30/steinmetz-hall-national-geographic-honor/
