Have some questions? Check out some of our most fequently asked questions.
Don't see your answer? Give us a call at 713-533-0080 and we'll be glad to help.

When and how can I purchase tickets?
What do I wear?
Where should I park?
How long are performances?
What is the age limit for children?
When should I plan to arrive at the theater?
What time should I be in my seat?
What is your late seating policy?
What is your student / group discount policy?
Are there pre-concert lectures?
What is your exchange / refund policy?
What are the rules for etiquette and applause?
What if my question was not answered here?
How is Mercury Baroque different than other orchestras?
How are period instruments different than modern instruments?
How old are the instruments Mercury Baroque uses?

When and how can I purchase tickets?
The easiest way to purchase tickets is online through our website. You’ll be able to choose your own price level and select your own seats.  Another option is to call us directly at 713-533-0080 for more personal service. Either way, you can receive and print your tickets by email or pick them up at the box office before the performance. To order your tickets online, click the "Buy Tickets" button on the top left of our website.

What do I wear?
The most important thing in deciding what to wear is deciding what you’ll be more comfortable in. Not everyone goes to a concert in their most formal clothing. Most of our audience typically wears “business casual” outfits (slacks, skirts, and a nice shirt). Sometimes the temperature fluctuates in the concert hall, so be prepared and bring a light jacket or shall.

Where should I park?
For our performances at The Wortham Center in Downtown Houston, the easiest place to park is the underground Theater District parking structure. Signage all around the Theater District will help you find one of the several entrances to the parking structure. Event parking costs $7 and must be paid at the entrance to the structure.  An underground tunnel conveniently connects you from the underground parking to the Wortham Center’s main lobby and box office.  

How long are performances?
Although our performance may vary slightly in length, most are around 2 hours including a 15 minute intermission. Longer performances, such as our performance of Handel’s Messiah, usually include 2 intermissions and last up to 2.5 hours.

What is the age limit for children?
Although we welcome everyone to our concerts, they are generally not recommended for children under 6 years. This is with the child’s attention and comfort in mind, as well as the comfort and experience of surrounding audience members.  If you have children you’d like to expose to classical music, consider one of our family performances that are geared towards family with younger children. These performances are shorter in length and themed to educate and interest children in music. For more information about our family performances, click here or call 713-533-0080.

When should I plan to arrive at the theater?
Remember, our concerts can have several hundred plus people attending and there are often several other events around the Theater District at the same time. With that in mind, try to plan extra time for parking, walking, box office lines, etc. We recommend trying to arrive at the theater 30 minutes before the performance so you don’t have to rush to your seats.

What time should I be in my seat?
Our performances usually begin very promptly at their scheduled time. Try to be in your seat no later than 5 minutes before the performance.

What is your late seating policy?
Late seating is at the discretion of Mercury Baroque and may vary between performances and when the music allows. We understand that sometimes circumstances out of your hands may make you late to a performance and we try our absolute best to accommodate late seating without disrupting the concert and other patrons.

What is your student / group discount policy?
We offer $10 student tickets to students and teachers with school ID. You can purchase your student tickets at the box office before the show or by calling us ahead of time at 713-533-0080.  We are always happy to work with groups and are flexible enough to customize group rates to fit nearly any budget. Give us a call at 713-533-0080 to arrange your group discounts.

Are there pre-concert lectures?
Yes! Most of our performances do feature pre-concert lectures. They usually begin 45 minutes before a performance and are usually led by our musicologists and musicians. Our pre-concert lectures are a popular way to prepare yourself for a concert and learn some fun and interesting information about the lives of the composers and music you’re about to hear.

What is your exchange / refund policy?
Unfortunately we don’t offer ticket refunds. If you’re unable to attend a concert, give us a call at 713-533-0080 to talk about ticket exchanging. Otherwise, consider returning your tickets to the orchestra as a tax-deductible donation.

What are the rules for etiquette and applause?
The typical rule for applause is to wait until the whole piece is finished. Sometimes pieces can have several individual movements. When these movements are linked together musically, it’s nice to have a seamless transition between them without applause. You can see a piece’s movements listed in the program booklet. When in doubt, wait for the rest of the audience to applaud, as well.  

What if my question was not answered here?
Don’t be shy. Give us a call at 713-533-0080. We welcome all of your questions and hope to make your concert experience as enjoyable as possible!

How is Mercury Baroque different than other orchestras?
Mercury Baroque is a special type of orchestra that specializes in playing Baroque and Classical period music (music from the 17th and 18th centuries) on period correct instruments. While the size of our orchestra varies with the requirements of the pieces we perform, our core ensemble is a chamber orchestra, meaning it’s slightly smaller than a larger symphony orchestra.   

How are period instruments different than modern instruments?
Mercury Baroque performs on period instruments, meaning the instruments our musicians use are either original or modern reproductions of instruments actually used in the 17th and 18th centuries. In most cases, instruments today vary slightly in construction and sound from instruments used 300 years ago. The most obvious difference is that our stringed instruments are using strings made out of historically correct sheep gut rather than metal strings used by most modern stringed instruments. The shapes of the bows are also different from modern bows, accentuating different parts of a note. Although many of these differences are slight, a whole orchestra of period instruments yields a very special sound that suits our music perfectly. 

How old are the instruments Mercury Baroque uses?
It really varies between musicians. Some of our musicians use antique instruments and others use modern instruments that are reproductions of originals. It’s more likely for our string players to be using antique instruments than our wind and brass players since antique wind and brass instruments are much harder to find. Most of the antique instruments on stage were made in the 1700s and early 1800s while they can sometimes be nearly 400 years old. If you have a question about a musician’s instrument, feel free to ask them. Musicians love sharing their passion and talking about their instruments.