Box Office: (714) 755-5799
www.PacificSymphony.org
Renèe and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
615 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Classical Series
Gala Opening Night
ANDRÉ WATTS PLAYS BRAHMS
Thursday through Saturday, September 20-22, 8 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor
André Watts, piano
Strauss, Jr.: Overture to “Die Fledermaus”
Strauss: Suite from “Der Rosenkavalier”
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2
Franz Liszt called Brahms’ Second “a distinguished work of art in which thought and feeling move in noble harmony.” That description could apply equally to pianist André Watts, who headlines our season opener. Also: the lightheartedness of one Strauss’s “Die Fledermaus” contrasts with the sophistication of another’s “Der Rosenkavalier.”
CONRAD TAO PLAYS GRIEG
Thursday through Saturday, October 18-20, 8 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor
Conrad Tao, piano
Lelie Resnick, English horn
Sibelius: Swan of Tuonela
Grieg: Piano Concerto
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4
Hailed by critics as an “exciting prodigy” and “breathtaking,” 17-year-old Conrad Tao wowed Pacific Symphony audiences last season. His performance of Grieg’s masterpiece is sure to elicit the same exuberant reaction! Also: the bold instrumental colors of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony and the delicate mythology of Sibelius’s “Swan of Tuonela.”
COME TO THE CABARET
Thursday through Saturday, November 8-10, 8 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor
Ute Lemper, vocalist
Hudson Shad, vocalists
Weill: Seven Deadly Sins
Gershwin: An American in Paris
Gershwin: Two Songs
Piaf: Four Songs
Enigmatic and beguiling, German theater star and singer Ute Lemper is widely acknowledged as the ultimate interpreter of the songs of Kurt Weill and European cabaret. She is also known to American and English audiences for her award-winning performances in the musicals “Cabaret” and “Chicago.”
Music Unwound: Three seasons ago, the Symphony introduced unique formatting, multi-media and other enhancements to allow deeper insight, better understanding and a richer enjoyment of the concerts.
Enhancements thanks to a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
ALISA WEILERSTEIN PLAYS DVOŘÁK
Thursday through Saturday, December 6-8, 8 p.m.
Alexander Shelley, conductor
Alisa Weilerstein, cello
Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks
Debussy: La Mer
Dvořák: Cello Concerto
Performed by the exquisite Alisa Weilerstein, Dvořák’s Cello Concerto finds orchestra and soloist passing two main themes back and forth with a freshness still evident more than a century after its debut.
BEETHOVEN’S VIOLIN CONCERTO
Thursday through Saturday, January 10-12, 2013, 8 p.m.
Garry Walker, conductor
James Ehnes, violin
Beethoven: Violin Concerto
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
One of Beethoven’s crowning achievements, his Violin Concerto remains the most performed and most recorded work in the violin repertoire, enjoying universal renown. In the hands of Canadian violinist James Ehnes and celebrated Scottish conductor Garry Walker, this sublime work will be a special treat.
MOZART’S REQUIEM & MORE
Thursday through Saturday, January 31-February 2, 2013, 8 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor
Pacific Chorale — John Alexander, artistic director
MOZART: Overture to The Magic Flute
MOZART: Excerpts from The Magic Flute
MOZART: Fantasia in F Minor for solo organ
MOZART: Masonic Funeral Music
MOZART: Requiem
MOZART: Ave verum corpus
Mozart’s deathbed composition — a requiem for a stranger that became his own — now enjoys iconic status as one of the most sublime achievements in sacred music. Mozart’s desire to create “some higher form of church music” also led to the Ave Verum Corpus.
Music Unwound: Three seasons ago, the Symphony introduced unique formatting, multi-media and other enhancements to allow deeper insight, better understanding and a richer enjoyment of the concerts.
Enhancements thanks to a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
PUCCINI’S “TOSCA”
Thursday, February 21, 2013, 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 23, 2013, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 8 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor
Pacific Chorale — John Alexander, artistic director
Eric Einhorn, stage director
Inspired by Music Director Carl St.Clair’s successful career as an opera conductor in Europe, Pacific Symphony presents concert opera for a second season. With more music from the hand that wrote “La Bohème,” “Tosca” has everything great opera should have: gorgeous music, high emotion and grand tragedy.
FROM BACH TO MAHLER
Thursday through Saturday, March 21-23, 2013, 8 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor
Dejan Lazić, piano
Bach: Air on the G string
Bach: Piano Concerto No. 3, BWV 1054
Mahler: Symphony No. 5
Though known during his lifetime more as an organist than a composer, Bach became the single greatest influence on every important composer for centuries. Mahler’s immersion in Bach’s works first displayed itself in his Fifth Symphony. Also on the program: Bach’s “Air on a G String” and Piano Concerto No. 3.
BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH
Thursday through Saturday, April 4-6, 2013, 8 p.m.
Mei-Ann Chen, conductor
George Gao, erhu
Huang: Saibei Dance
Zhanhao/Gang: Butterfly Lovers’ Concerto
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
From the most famous four notes in music (the “da-da-da-dum” opening), to the struggle depicted in its first movement, to its final triumphant bars, Beethoven’s brilliant Symphony No. 5 remains a popular and irresistible part of the repertoire. Mei-Ann Chen brings her energy and dynamism to this popular work.
SAINT-SAËN’S ORGAN SYMPHONY
Thursday through Saturday, May 2-4, 2013, 8 p.m.
Aziz Shokhakimov, conductor
Tianwa Yang, violin
Paul Jacobs, organ
Chabrier: España
Lalo: Symphonie espagnole
Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3, “Organ”
Saint-Saëns’ said he had “given everything I was able to give” to his “Organ” Symphony. It includes virtuoso keyboard passages, brilliant orchestral writing and the sound of a cathedral-sized organ — in this case, the magnificent William J. Gillespie Concert Organ. Lalo’s “Symphonie espagnole” and Chabrier’s “España” add an Iberian touch to the program.
American Composers Festival 2013
DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA
May 16-18, 2013, 8 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor
Duke Ellington Orchestra
Daniel Schnyder, composer and saxophone
David Taylor, bass trombone
Kenny Drew Jr., piano
Schnyder: Shourouk
Schnyder: In a Sentimental Mood (Ellington)
Schnyder: Variations on Purple Haze (Hendrix)
Schnyder: subZERO, bass trombone concerto (David Taylor, soloist)
Duke Ellington Orchestra
A celebration of American composers is incomplete without mention of Duke Ellington, whose works inspired many composers and musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries. This year, we aren’t just mentioning him; we are presenting the ensemble that carries his name and has been playing together in one form or another for eight decades.
RITE OF SPRING TURNS 100
Thursday through Saturday, June 6-8, 2013, 8 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor
Tchaikovsky: Excerpts from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky: Excerpts from Swan Lake
Tchaikovsky: Lullaby in the Storm
Stravinsky: Le Baiser de la Fee (The Fairy’s Kiss)
Epilogue “Land of Eternal Dwelling”
Stravinsky: La sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)
The New York Times proclaimed Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” as significant “to the 20th century as Beethoven’s Ninth is to the 19th.” Celebrate the centennial of Stravinsky’s foremost orchestral achievement.
Music Unwound: Three seasons ago, the Symphony introduced unique formatting, multi-media and other enhancements to allow deeper insight, better understanding and a richer enjoyment of the concerts.
Enhancements thanks to a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Also, a collaboration with UC Irvine Claire Trevor School of the Arts.
Special Events
LANG LANG
Thursday, September 27, 8 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor
Lang Lang, piano
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
Heralded as the “hottest artist on the classical music planet” by The New York Times, 30-year-old Lang Lang has played sold-out concerts around the world! He appeared in the 2009 Time 100, Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
HANDEL’S “MESSIAH”
Sunday, December 9, 3 p.m.
John Alexander, conductor
Pacific Chorale — John Alexander, artistic director
A timeless masterwork that transcends three centuries of fads and fashions, Handel’s “Messiah” is an event of joy, reflection and renewal. Thrill to blazing trumpets, thundering timpani and the electrifying, uplifting “Hallelujah” chorus at Orange County’s most popular rendition of this cherished holiday tradition.
Pops Series
Pops Opening Night
WICKED DIVAS—An Evening of Broadway Hits!
Thursday through Saturday, November 15-17, 8 p.m.
Richard Kaufman, conductor
Alli Mauzey, vocalist
Julia Murney, vocalist
Stars from the smash musical “Wicked” join Pacific Symphony for a concert of showstoppers from Broadway, Hollywood and popular music. The programincludes favorites from “My Fair Lady,” “Chicago,” “Titanic,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Phantom of the Opera” and, of course, “Wicked.”
CHRISTMAS WITH AMY GRANT
Thursday through Saturday, December 13-15, 8 p.m.
Richard Kaufman, conductor
Amy Grant, vocalist
With six Grammy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Amy Grant is an American music icon who has erased the lines between genres. Her artistry has continually resonated with audiences since she first hit the national spotlight as a fresh-faced teen with a guitar three decades ago. Share a special holiday program as she visits Pacific Symphony.
VALENTINE’S DAY WITH KENNY G
Thursday through Saturday, February 14-16, 2013, 8 p.m.
Richard Kaufman, conductor
Kenny G, saxophone
Perfect for Valentine’s Day, relax with silky smooth sounds of Kenny G when the saxophone superstar joins Pacific Symphony! Over the decades, Kenny G has grafted elements of R&B, pop and Latin to his smooth jazz foundation—solidifying his reputation as the premier artist in contemporary jazz.
Southern California Premiere
THE GERSHWINS: HERE TO STAY
Thursday through Saturday, March 14-16, 2013, 8 p.m.
Albert-George Schram, conductor
Kevin Cole, piano
Sylvia McNair, vocalist
Ryan VanDenBoom, vocalist
Pacific Symphony and renowned Gershwin interpreter Kevin Cole celebrate George and Ira through a new multimedia concert event featuring family photos, rare audio and video footage, artwork, privately held manuscripts and new musical arrangements! Performances include “The Man I Love,” “I Got Rhythm,” “Strike Up the Band,” “They All Laughed,” “’S Wonderful” and many more!
GLADYS KNIGHT
Thursday through Saturday, April 18-20, 2013, 8 p.m.
Richard Kaufman, conductor
Gladys Knight, vocalist
The “Empress of Soul,” Gladys Knight has recorded nearly 40 albums featuring her soulful voice, scoring chart toppers in pop, R&B and adult contemporary music. Backed by Pacific Symphony, Knight delivers some of her signature hits, including “Every Beat of My Heart,” “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
Thursday through Saturday, May 9-11, 2013, 8 p.m.Richard Kaufman, conductor
A symphonic night at the movies! On the big screen: A beautifully restored print of the 1952 classic musical “Singin’ in the Rain,” starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds. On the concert hall stage: the gifted musicians of Pacific Symphony provide the soundtracks by performing the score live!
THE MIDTOWN MEN—Four stars from the original cast of “Jersey Boys”
Thursday through Saturday, June 13-15, 2013, 8 p.m.
Richard Kaufman, conductor
Christian Hoff, vocalist
Michael Longoria, vocalist
Daniel Reichard, vocalist
J. Robert Spencer, vocalist
They took Broadway by storm in one of the biggest hits of all time! Now, they join Pacific Symphony to celebrate the music of the 1960s with a “jump-to-your-feet” show featuring top hits from The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Temptations, The Jackson 5, The Four Seasons and more!
Not a performance of, not affiliated with the show “Jersey Boys.”
Classical Connections Series
BRAHMS’ SECOND PIANO CONCERTO
Sunday, September 23, 2012, 3 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor and host
André Watts, piano
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2
Franz Liszt called Brahms’ Second “a distinguished work of art in which thought and feeling move in noble harmony.” Find out why as Music Director Carl St.Clair and piano superstar André Watts explore this masterpiece.
An American in Paris & More!
Sunday, November 11, 2012, 3 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor and host
Ute Lemper, vocalist
Gershwin: Two Songs
Piaf: Four Songs
Gershwin: An American in Paris
Evoking the energy of the French capital in the 1920s, Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” is the perfect companion to Ute Lemper, the European superstar of theater and cabaret.
Mozart’s Requiem Unwound
Sunday, February 3, 2013, 3 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor and host
Pacific Chorale — John Alexander, artistic director
Mozart: Requiem
Mozart’s deathbed composition now enjoys iconic status as one of the most sublime achievements in music. Investigate this masterpiece with Music Director Carl St.Clair, Pacific Symphony and the angelic voices of Pacific Chorale.
DUKE ELLINGTON REVEALED
Sunday, May 19, 2013, 3 p.m.
Carl St.Clair, conductor and host
Duke Ellington Orchestra
The ensemble founded by Duke Ellington himself shines as Music Director Carl St.Clair and Pacific Symphony explore why Ellington inspired so many other composers of the 20th and 21st centuries!
Café Ludwig Chamber Series
THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Sunday, October 7, 2012, 3 p.m.
Samueli Theater (Next to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall)
Jessica Pearlman, oboe
Rose Corrigan, bassoon
Raymond Kobler, violin
Paul Manaster, violin
Bridget Dolkas, violin
Robert Becker, viola
Timothy Landauer, cello
Orli Shaham, piano
Poulenc: Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano
Ravel: String Quartet in F Major
Chausson: Concerto in D Major for Violin, String Quartet and Piano, Op. 21
A musical stroll through the French countryside: Poulenc’s lively melodies are set against Ravel’s delightful String Quartet — one of his early achievements and now one of the most popular works in the repertoire. Then, Chausson’s astonishing gem, spanning the emotional range — from delight to melancholy to triumph.
Pacific Symphony’s Café Ludwig series performances include coffee, tea and pastries.
WOODWIND MAGIC
Sunday, January 20, 2013, 3 p.m.
Samueli Theater (Next to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall)
Benjamin Smolen, flute
Jessica Pearlman, oboe
Benjamin Lulich, clarinet
Rose Corrigan, bassoon
Keith Popejoy, horn
Robert Becker, viola
Orli Shaham, piano
Prokofiev: Sonata in D Major, for Flute and Piano, Op. 94
Bruch: Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, Op. 83
Stravinsky: Three Pieces for Clarinet Solo
Mozart: Quintet in E-flat Major for Piano, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Horn, K. 452
Savor the unique personalities of woodwind instruments in this concert featuring enticing pieces by your favorite composers. Though often overshadowed by works that include strings, these pieces are bright, transparent and charming — weaving colors and textures as only the best chamber music can do!
Pacific Symphony’s Café Ludwig series performances include coffee, tea and pastries.
THE BRILLIANCE OF BRAHMS
Sunday, April 28, 2013, 3 p.m.
Samueli Theater (Next to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall)
Raymond Kobler, violin
Bridget Dolkas, violin
Robert Becker, viola
TBD, viola
Timothy Landauer, cello
Kevin Plunkett, cello
Orli Shaham, piano
Brahms: Sonata No. 1 in E Minor for Cello and Piano, Op. 38
Brahms: Six Pieces for Solo Piano, Op. 118
Brahms: String Sextet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 36
A wonderful musical tribute to the genius of Johannes Brahms: We start with Sonata No. 1, an homage to Bach that borrows some of his themes; continue with six reflective and introspective pieces for solo piano; and end with a perfectly crafted sextet of charm and elegance.
Pacific Symphony’s Café Ludwig series performances include coffee, tea and pastries.
Family Musical Mornings
HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR
Saturday, October 20, 2012, 10 & 11:30 a.m.
Maxim Eshkenazy, conductor
A spooktacular treat of a concert, as you and your family are entranced by mysterious music perfect for good little ghouls and ghosts — including Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain” and selections from the “Harry Potter” movies. Make sure to wear your favorite costume!
Pacific Symphony’s Family Musical Mornings are fun and fascinating 45-minute concerts designed especially for children 5-11. Enjoy family fun time together while enhancing your child’s (or grandchild’s) love of music.
During the Musical Carnival, enjoy free hands-on activities for children, who can meet Symphony musicians, sing, dance, play, color, try musical instruments and enjoy themselves in thematic activities related to the concert. 9 a.m. for 10 a.m. concertgoers; 12:15 p.m. for 11:30 a.m. concertgoers.
NUTCRACKER FOR KIDS
Saturday, December 8, 2012, 10 & 11:30 a.m.
Maxim Eshkenazy, conductor
Festival Ballet Theatre, Salwa Rizkalla, artistic director
Visions of sugarplums will dance in your head after seeing Tchaikovsky’s delightful Christmas ballet — performed in a condensed 45-minute version created just for kids. This seasonal favorite finishes with a grand holiday finale sing-along and is sure to sell out!
Pacific Symphony’s Family Musical Mornings are fun and fascinating 45-minute concerts designed especially for children 5-11. Enjoy family fun time together while enhancing your child’s (or grandchild’s) love of music.
During the Musical Carnival, enjoy free hands-on activities for children, who can meet Symphony musicians, sing, dance, play, color, try musical instruments and enjoy themselves in thematic activities related to the concert. 9 a.m. for 10 a.m. concertgoers; 12:15 p.m. for 11:30 a.m. concertgoers.
THE MAGIC FLUTE
Saturday, January 12, 2013, 10 & 11:30 a.m.
Alejandro Gutiérrez, conductor
Mozart’s musical fairy tale, with its imaginative setting and spectacular music, is brought to life in a special version designed just for you and your kids. Talented singers join Pacific symphony to bring this classic opera to life!
Pacific Symphony’s Family Musical Mornings are fun and fascinating 45-minute concerts designed especially for children 5-11. Enjoy family fun time together while enhancing your child’s (or grandchild’s) love of music.
During the Musical Carnival, enjoy free hands-on activities for children, who can meet Symphony musicians, sing, dance, play, color, try musical instruments and enjoy themselves in thematic activities related to the concert. 9 a.m. for 10 a.m. concertgoers; 12:15 p.m. for 11:30 a.m. concertgoers.
Cinderella
Saturday, March 23, 2013, 10 & 11:30 a.m.
Alejandro Gutiérrez, conductor
Bob Brown, puppets
The classic children’s tale documenting the triumph of spirit over adversity. Your children will love this wacky production, which features life-sized puppets and music from Prokofiev’s popular ballet. You’ve never seen “Cinderella” like this before!
Pacific Symphony’s Family Musical Mornings are fun and fascinating 45-minute concerts designed especially for children 5-11. Enjoy family fun time together while enhancing your child’s (or grandchild’s) love of music.During the Musical Carnival, enjoy free hands-on activities for children, who can meet Symphony musicians, sing, dance, play, color, try musical instruments and enjoy themselves in thematic activities related to the concert. 9 a.m. for 10 a.m. concertgoers; 12:15 p.m. for 11:30 a.m. concertgoers.
UNDER THE SEA
Saturday, May 4, 2013, 10 & 11:30 a.m.
Alejandro Gutiérrez, conductor
Voyage beneath the sea to explore wet and watery music including Disney’s beloved theme to “The Little Mermaid” and Debussy’s “La Mer,” his groundbreaking piece that captures the moods and colors of the ocean using the orchestra as a paintbrush.
Pacific Symphony’s Family Musical Mornings are fun and fascinating 45-minute concerts designed especially for children 5-11. Enjoy family fun time together while enhancing your child’s (or grandchild’s) love of music.
During the Musical Carnival, enjoy free hands-on activities for children, who can meet Symphony musicians, sing, dance, play, color, try musical instruments and enjoy themselves in thematic activities related to the concert. 9 a.m. for 10 a.m. concertgoers; 12:15 p.m. for 11:30 a.m. concertgoers.
Pedals and Pipes: Organ Series
HOLIDAY ORGAN SPECTACULAR
Tuesday, December 18, 7:30 p.m.
Todd Wilson, organ
Members of Pacific Symphony
Rapidly becoming an Orange County tradition, our holiday spectacular captures the spirit of the season with a delightful mix of sacred and holiday music. Favorite Christmas carols share the bill with traditional organ works by Bach, Handel and others.
Silent movie event!
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Sunday, March 10, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Dennis James, organ
Organist Dennis James provides a chilling soundtrack to the classic 1925 silent film “The Phantom of the Opera,” starring Lon Cheney, Sr. See this extraordinary film on the big screen while experiencing the overwhelming sounds from the 4,322-pipe organ.
PAUL JACOBS: “MUSIC FROM PARIS”
Sunday, May 5, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Grammy Award winner Paul Jacobs returns to Orange County with a delightful program including works by Boulanger, Durufle, Guilmant, Messiaen and Vierne. Projected images allow a unique, up-close look at the master organist and the incredible instrument.
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