California Symphony to Present THE WIZARD OF OZ with Live Orchestra Accompaniment, 8/21

WALNUT CREEK, CA (July 7, 2015) - The California Symphony presents the beloved classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, and performs the complete, live orchestral accompaniment as the movie is shown on a giant screen at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, Friday, August 21 at 8:30 pm. Conductor Sarah Hicks leads the orchestra in some of the best-loved movie songs and music of all time, including Harold Arlen and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg's "Over the Rainbow," "We're Off to See the Wizard," "If I Only Had a Brain," "Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead," "The Merry Old Land of Oz," and many more, as well as the underscore by composer Herbert Stothart. Judy Garland and the other actors' original vocal performances are preserved and enhanced, so they can be fully heard and enjoyed as the orchestra plays. The film's restored images are accompanied by the orchestra playing entirely new transcriptions of Harold Arlen's brilliant lost scores. The production is by Emmy Award-winning producer John Goberman (Live from Lincoln Center). Tickets for The Wizard of Oz are $25 to $75 for adults and $10 for students 18 years old and younger, and are on sale now at www.californiasymphony.org/oz.

The California Symphony is entering its third season with Music Director Donato Cabrera, and is expanding its regional profile in Northern California, performing concerts in three new venues beginning this summer. The orchestra, based in Walnut Creek, will perform at its home at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center's Lincoln Theater in Yountville, and at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, as well as a recent performance with Postmodern Jukebox at the Kaiser Center Roof Garden in Oakland. The orchestra is focused on American repertoire, nurturing new American composers as part of its Young American Composer in Residence program, and bringing music to people in new and unconventional settings as well as performing the most revered core classical repertoire.

The 2015-16 season opens Sunday, September 20 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, with Donato Cabrera leading the orchestra in "Passport to the World," a variety of short pieces from an array of international composers, including Debussy, Sibelius, Falla, Dvo?ák, Rimsky-Korsakov, Grieg, Elgar, Vaughan Williams, and Glière. In celebration of Sibelius, the orchestra performs the Karelia Suite and Finlandia on the program, on the anniversary of the great Finnish composer's death. Following the September 20 opening concert, the orchestra and Cabrera welcome the audience to mingle with the artists at a special Opening Night Party, a benefit reception with food and drink (Opening Night Party tickets sold separately).

In May 2016, the orchestra and guitarist Jason Vieaux perform the world premiere of the orchestra's new concerto commission by Dan Visconti, current Young American Composer in Residence, in concert in Walnut Creek and Yountville. Other season highlights include an American Roots program with pianist Charlie Albright performing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, a showcase of two California Symphony principal musicians in a little-heard R. Strauss double concerto, performances of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and Brahms' Symphony No. 2, and holiday music with Pacific Boychoir, in Walnut Creek and Yountville.

Subscription ticket package prices range from $168 to $288 for the California Symphony's 2015-16 season and are on sale now to renewing subscribers and the general public. Tickets can be purchased through the California Symphony's website at www.californiasymphony.organd at 925-280-2490. All regular season 2015-16 California Symphony concerts will go on sale to buyers of individual concert tickets on Friday, August 21.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA SYMPHONY

The only all-professional orchestra in Contra Costa County, the California Symphony is distinguished for its concert programs that combine classics alongside lesser-known works, for its pioneering Young American Composer in Residence program, and for its nationally recognized education programs. The orchestra is comprised of musicians who have performed with the orchestras of the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet, and others. California Symphony has launched the careers of some of today's most-performed composers and soloists, including violinist Sarah Chang, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, and composers such as Mason Bates, Christopher Theofanidis, and Kevin Puts.

Music Director Donato Cabrera joined the California Symphony in 2013. He has been the Resident Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) and the Wattis Foundation Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (SFSYO) since 2009. In 2014, Cabrera was appointed Music Director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2013 he became Music Director of the New Hampshire Music Festival.