Photographer: J. Griffis Smith

Located in downtown's Sundance Square, this stunning performance hall is a permanent venue for the city's acclaimed symphony, ballet, and opera companies, as well as the quadrennial Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Casa Mañana, Broadway-style touring productions and special concerts are staged here as well. Bass Hall's striking facade features two 48-foot-tall heralding angels in Texas limestone. The building bears a beaux-arts revival design, with an interior that features a 2,056-seat audience chamber in a tiered horseshoe style. Modeled after select European opera houses. In its first year, it was named one of the world's top 10 opera houses by Travel & Leisure magazine.