Music and Dance Performance

The Oregon Symphony (503/228-1353 or 800/228-1353, www.orsympony.org [1]) is the oldest orchestra west of the Mississippi, and it performs in a historic jewel-box of an auditorium, the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall [2].

Portland Opera (503/241-1802 or 866/739-6737, www.portlandopera.org [3]) stages five operas per year and hosts traveling Broadway shows, mounted at the 3,000-seat Keller Auditorium (222 SW Clay St.).

Other classical music organizations include the Portland Baroque Orchestra (503/222-6000, www.pbo.org [4]), led by Monica Huggett and presenting 18th-century music on period instruments; Portland Piano International (503/228-1388, www.portlandpiano.org [5]), which presents world-renowned pianists in recital; and the Third Angle New Music Ensemble (503/331-0301, www.thirdangle.org [6]), presenting contemporary classical music.

Oregon Ballet Theatre (503/222-5538 or 888/922-5538, www.obt.org [7]) is the city’s classical dance troupe, usually performing at Keller Auditorium.

White Bird Dance (503/245-1600, www.whitebird.org [8]) brings an impressive number of world-class modern dance troupes to Portland [9]. White Bird sponsors two different series each year, one at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall [2] that features established troupes such as Paul Taylor or Mark Morris, the other featuring edgier and more intimate dance pieces held at various venues in Portland.