The Austin Symphony Orchestra plays "To Have and to Hold" at the Long Center's Dell Hall in Austin, Texas, on Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. and again Sunday, Oct. 25. It is an all-marriage program: a champagne polka, a wedding march, and in the middle, Leonard Bernstein's one-act opera Trouble in Tahiti, about a couple whose marriage is not going well.

According to ATX Things' read of the symphony's ticketing page and the Long Center's own pages on Oct. 21, the cheapest seat listed is a $32 balcony ticket and the part that needs planning is the drive, because Riverside Drive in front of the hall is closed.

A concert hall at night, an orchestra under warm stand lights and a narrator's lectern at stage left, a baritone in a dark suit with his back to the camera (AI illustration, not Dell Hall or this production)

AI illustration, not a photo of Dell Hall or of this production.

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Dell Hall at the Long Center

$32–$119 (Friday seat map, Oct. 21)
701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin, TX 78704
Fri Oct. 23, 8 PM; Sun Oct. 25, 2 PM (per the symphony)
(512) 474-5664Website

What is "To Have and to Hold," and what will you actually hear?

The symphony calls it a program that "explores the many dimensions of love and partnership through music and narration." It is part of its Masterworks Series. Jamie Bernstein, Leonard Bernstein's daughter, directs and narrates. Peter Bay conducts.

The listed program, in the symphony's order:

  • Leonard Bernstein: Trouble in Tahiti, with "The Carnival of Marriage," verses by Ogden Nash
  • Johann Strauss Jr.: Champagne Polka
  • Ernő Dohnányi: "Wedding Waltz" from The Veil of Pierrette
  • Camille Saint-Saëns: Wedding Cake
  • Edward Elgar: Salut d'Amour
  • Grieg (arr. Huppertz): Wedding Day at Troldhaugen
  • Felix Mendelssohn: "Wedding March" from A Midsummer Night's Dream

The singers are Charles Eaton (baritone), Megan Marino (mezzo-soprano), Tori Adams (soprano), Jesse Darden (tenor) and Jeremiah Sanders (baritone), with Alex Maynegre-Torra on piano.

Trouble in Tahiti is the piece to know about. Bernstein's own office describes it as an opera about the domestic conflict of a husband and wife, Sam and Dinah, and says it premiered in June 1952 at Brandeis University. Wikipedia lists it as one act in seven scenes. I have not seen this production, so I can't tell you how the symphony staged it or how the narration threads between the pieces. The program order above is the symphony's, not mine, and the listing doesn't say whether there is an intermission. The Long Center says intermission lengths vary by show, so ask an usher.

"

A cohesive and engaging exploration of relationships through both sound and story. — Austin Symphony Orchestra, program description

What do tickets cost, and which night should you pick?

I read the Friday, Oct. 23 seat map on the symphony's site on Oct. 21. I did not load the Sunday map, so Sunday's prices may differ.

SectionListed price range (Fri., Oct. 23)
Balcony$32–$42
Mezzanine$62–$96
Parterre$66–$111
Orchestra$69–$114
Boxes$103–$119
Pit"No tickets available"

The Long Center says its listed prices are all-in: "what you see is what you will pay." Buy through the symphony at my.austinsymphony.org, not a reseller, because the Long Center says it can't confirm resold tickets.

Heads Up

The two performances are not the same kind of evening. The symphony's ticketing page lists Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., with a "matinee underwriter" credited. The Long Center's event page shows a Sunday listing at 8 p.m. I trusted the symphony, which sells the tickets, but check your confirmation email before you plan a Sunday dinner around either time.

The symphony's Instagram announcement calls it "a musical celebration of love, marriage, and everything in between." Friday at 8 p.m. is the date-night slot. The Sunday 2 p.m. matinee is the easier one on parking and on anyone who has to work Monday.

Where do you park, and what is the Riverside Drive closure?

This is the part to read before you leave. The Long Center says that beginning Sept. 1, portions of Riverside Drive in front of the hall are closed for street construction "until early 2027." Its directions page, read Oct. 21, says the Phase 2 closure "has started" and that Riverside Drive is "now fully closed." It lists these access rules:

  • There is no right turn onto Riverside Drive from southbound South Lamar Boulevard.
  • The valet, Circle Drive and the garage's Riverside entrance can be reached by crossing South First Street on Riverside Drive, or by turning left or right from South First and cutting the median.
  • The Long Center recommends the Palmer Events Center garage's Barton Springs Road entrance, which "may require a longer walk but will help reduce congestion."

The same page carried an older Phase 1 notice that said the closure was "tentatively scheduled to change on 10/21/26," which is today. It may change again before Friday. I have not driven any of this, the Long Center doesn't publish drive times, and I'm not giving you one.

OptionPrice (per the Long Center, Oct. 21)Notes
Palmer Events Center garage, 900 Barton Springs Rd.$12, cashless unless special rates are postedUse the Barton Springs entrance during construction
One Texas Center garage (Barton Springs and S. First)$12–$20 on special eventsOverflow; reached off Haywood Ave. or S. First
RiverSouth garage, across from the Long Center$25Covered; entrance on W. Riverside
Valet, Palmer garage$25Per the Long Center
Valet, Keller Williams Circular Drive$25–$50, cash onlyPrice depends on the event
Pro Tip

Bring a $20 bill and a backup. The valet booth takes cash only, the Palmer garage is cashless, and both depend on you getting past the Riverside closure. If the Barton Springs entrance backs up, the One Texas Center garage is the Long Center's own overflow suggestion.

Palmer and One Texas are city-run garages, so their rates can change without notice.

When do the doors open, and what can you bring?

The Long Center's FAQ says that "typically, lobby doors will open 90 minutes prior to the performance start time and theatre doors usually open 30 minutes prior." For the Friday 8 p.m. show that points to about 6:30 p.m. for the lobby and 7:30 p.m. for the hall. That is the Long Center's general pattern, not a time published for this concert.

A blue-hour terrace outside a performing arts center, downtown skyline behind it, concertgoers in evening wear walking toward glass doors (AI illustration, not the actual Long Center)

AI illustration, not a photo of the Long Center terrace.

The event page lists what's not allowed: outside food or drinks, weapons of any kind, professional cameras (anything with a detachable lens), video cameras, tents, vending and soliciting. It's an indoor event, and everyone needs a ticket regardless of age. The FAQ says the Long Center sells cocktails, beer, wine, sodas, water and light snacks before the show and at intermission, and that you can pre-order intermission refreshments to enjoy on the Terrace overlooking downtown. The box office is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and opens 90 minutes before weekend shows. Call (512) 474-5664.

What will the weather be?

Open-Meteo's Oct. 21 forecast for Austin shows Friday at a high of 84°F and a low of 57°F with about a 0 percent chance of rain, and Sunday at 81°F and 67°F with about 2 percent. That is a model forecast a few days out and it will shift. The concert is indoors. The weather matters for the walk from whichever garage you land in.

What locals should know

  • Two performances: Fri., Oct. 23, 8 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 25, 2 p.m. per the symphony. The Long Center's page shows Sunday at 8 p.m.; confirm before you go.
  • Seats: $32–$42 in the balcony to $103–$119 in the boxes, Friday's listed prices as of Oct. 21.
  • Parking: Palmer garage, $12 cashless, Barton Springs entrance. Riverside Drive is fully closed in front of the hall.
  • Same weekend: Oct. 24 is Viva La Vida downtown, and Formula 1 is at COTA Oct. 22–25. Both pull on the same roads and rideshares. See our F1 parking guide.

The last time the symphony was in this hall, we walked through the same Riverside Drive turn rules for Batman in Concert. More on the week's plans in things to do in Austin. Sources: the Austin Symphony Orchestra's ticket page, the Long Center event page, its directions and parking page and FAQ, the Leonard Bernstein Office and Open-Meteo, all read Oct. 21, 2026.

This desk publishes twice a day, mornings and afternoons, on what's open, what's happening and what's worth the drive. Follow @austintexasthings if that's useful.

FAQ

What time is the Austin Symphony's "To Have and to Hold"? The symphony's ticketing page lists Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. in the Long Center's Dell Hall. The Long Center's own event page shows the Sunday performance at 8 p.m., so confirm the time on your ticket.

Who is performing? Jamie Bernstein directs and narrates, Peter Bay conducts, and the singers are Charles Eaton, Megan Marino, Tori Adams, Jesse Darden and Jeremiah Sanders, with pianist Alex Maynegre-Torra, per the symphony.

How much are tickets? On the Friday seat map read Oct. 21, balcony seats were $32–$42, mezzanine $62–$96, parterre $66–$111, orchestra $69–$114 and boxes $103–$119. The Long Center says prices are all-in. Sunday prices weren't checked.

Where do I park at the Long Center? The Long Center lists the Palmer Events Center garage at $12, cashless, at 900 Barton Springs Rd., and recommends its Barton Springs entrance while Riverside Drive is closed. Valet is $25–$50, cash only. Overflow is the One Texas Center garage at $12–$20 and RiverSouth at $25.

Is Riverside Drive open? Not in front of the Long Center. The Long Center says Riverside Drive is fully closed there during Phase 2 of street construction, running until early 2027, with no right turn onto Riverside from southbound South Lamar. Check its directions page before you drive.