Rippling Frank Gehry-designed ‘sails’ crown the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s stunning new home. The brilliant design ensures that everyone in the house gets a good view of the German-built pipe organ that dominates the stage, with its tangle of pipes—dubbed “French fries” by Gehry—that rise to the roof. Get there early for complimentary pre-show drinks in the garden, then enjoy symphonic repertoire in one of the world’s finest (and most sensitive) acoustics.

Founded by a paint heiress with a dream, this outdoor amphitheater has been the venue for everything from Shakespeare to punk. With a stage set dramatically against the Hollywood Hills, it’s a relatively intimate (1,200-seat) alternative to the nearby Hollywood Bowl and is now part of the LA Philharmonic’s empire, hosting orchestras, jazz bands, and local acts from June to October. There’s a market and plant-based Mexican eatery on-site, but you’re welcome to bring your own refreshments, too.

This gleaming Art Deco amphitheater, home to both the LA Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, has hosted every A-list musician from The Beatles to Andrea Bocelli. But local classical music buffs flock here for the theater’s popular Movie Night series, which pairs film screenings with live orchestral performances of the scores. You can BYO refreshments to LA Philharmonic-produced events only, so check online before packing the cooler.

With onyx walls, a gold-leaf dome, more than a million mosaic tiles dotting dozens of wall sconces, and Bavarian crystal chandeliers, everything about this down LA auditorium is grand. Fitting, as it’s home to the LA Opera. The company produces classic operas with big-name singers (Renée Fleming, Juan Diego Flórez) as well as contemporary American operas by Matthew Aucoin and Henry Mollicone. On-site eatery Kendall’s is open late, but reservations are recommended (as are the fries).

See future superstars and UCLA alumni (like John Williams and Angel Blue) at the performance hall for the college’s prestigious Herb Alpert School of Music. The annual All-Star Concert gives students the chance to perform solo with the UCLA Philharmonic, and the chamber orchestra, the UCLA Camarades, performs here regularly as well. Tickets are free, but since seating is limited (capacity is less than 530), consider arriving early.

Although it occasionally hosts solo performances from stars like Itzhak Perlman and Igor Levit, this handsome modern concert hall is primarily the home of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Under its music director, Esa-Pekka Salonen, the SFSO plays the full range of classical and contemporary symphonic repertoire, as well as movie screenings accompanied by a live orchestra (Jurassic Park, Black Panther). Discounted tickets are often available for weekday rehearsals.

Located at Colburn music school across from The Broad, this intimate yet breathtaking performance space hosts some of LA’s finest musicians. Come to watch conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, himself an alumnus, accompany soloists from the school in concerts with his orchestra, or catch a free show by the Academy Virtuosi (the conservatory’s conductor-less chamber orchestra). Also on the calendar: The LA Philharmonic’s chamber music series and its innovative new music program, Green Umbrella.

Opened in 1932, this Beaux-Arts masterpiece is the historic heart of the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, and with its Doric columns and gilded décor, it’s one of the most beautiful lyric theaters in the country. But resident companies San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet are anything but old-fashioned; they’ve premiered new operas by John Adams and Mason Bates alongside adventurous stagings of classical repertoire.

Grab a short-rib grilled cheese from George’s and hang out on the plaza, or take in a show at one of this Orange County center’s six on-site venues (Segerstrom Hall is the one with the huge red archway). The Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, and Pacific Chorale are all in residence, and the center is the go-to for touring Broadway shows. Of note: Segerstrom’s unconventional seating plan takes many visitors by surprise, so do check the website before booking.

The 1915-vintage Herbst Theatre is a work of art in its own right, thanks to Frank Brangwyn’s stunning murals exploring mankind’s relationship with the elements (water, earth, fire, and air). Located within the War Memorial Arts Center, the Herbst Theatre is home to recitals, chamber music, and the sparky Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra under its energetic new director Richard Egarr. The adjacent neo-baroque Green Room is (despite the name) a vision of powder-blue elegance.