Henry Segerstrom News

Fans of live stand-up comedy will have added reason to give thanks as popular actor and comedian Aziz Ansari comes to Segerstrom Center with two hilarious shows on the eve of Thanksgiving, tonight, November 26 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Orange County, Calif.—Nov. 21, 2014—Rejoice in the inspired melodies and theatrical mastery of “Handel's Glorious Messiah” when Pacific Symphony performs the Baroque masterpiece as a festive prelude to Christmas and the celebration of Christ's birth. A holiday tradition across the world, “Messiah” has been performed for more than 250 years, but with each new conductor, orchestra and soloists, it becomes a fresh and newly invigorating experience. Austrian conductor Christoph Campestrini leads the Symphony along with Pacific Chorale and a host of globally distinguished soloists including soprano Katherine Whyte, mezzo-soprano Claire Shackleton, tenor Steven Tharp and baritone Richard Zeller. Full of exciting choral writing, thundering timpani and blazing trumpets, “Messiah” energizes its audience and leaves them singing, “Hallelujah!” Handel's popular oratorio takes place at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25-$99. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.

Expanding their 27-year relationship, Segerstrom Center for the Arts and American Ballet Theatre announce the creation of the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School on the Segerstrom Center campus in Costa Mesa, CA. The combined resources of American Ballet Theatre, America's National Ballet Company® and Segerstrom Center, one of the world's leading presenters of dance, will offer unrivaled opportunities for training and nurturing future generations of dancers and dance audiences as well as furthering the development and evolution of dance. The school carries the name of Orange County philanthropist William J. Gillespie, who has been a board member of ABT since 1999 and an enthusiastic and generous donor to the Center for much of the institution's history.

Pacific Symphony and Festival Ballet Theatre (FBT) entice audiences of all ages with the sweet melodies, magical celebration and excitement of one of Tchaikovsky's most famous ballets during the holiday concert, "Nutcracker for Kids," part of Family Musical Mornings presented by Farmers and Merchants Bank. Led by Assistant Conductor Alejandro Gutierrez, the orchestra shares the stage with the enchanted ballerinas from FBT, led by Artistic Director Salwa Rizkalla, who bring this beloved Christmas tale of the prince and Clara to life. The classic battle between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker has children on the edge of their seats as Tchaikovsky's memorable music, performed live, fills the air with wonder. Then the dancers twirl and glide across the stage to the renowned "Waltz of the Flowers" and the enchanting "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy." Created especially for children ages 5-11, this 45-minute version of the ballet is adapted by Bree Burgess Rosen, and features narrator Charlotte Rubino, age 11, making it perfect for the whole family to enjoy.

Segerstrom Center's Cabaret Series continues February 12 - 14 with Tony Award- winning actor and singer John Lloyd Young performing in three concerts at Samueli Theater titled, John Lloyd Young - My Turn.

Savor two giant works of the repertoire for Pacific Symphony's first concert in December, beginning with Beethoven's masterful and rhythmic Seventh Symphony, which the composer himself called “one of my best works.” Then, the program turns to perhaps the world's most lyrical, popular and critically admired piano concerto—Rachmaninoff's Second—performed by keyboard wonder and longtime Symphony friend, Alain Lefèvre. The concert, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, opens with a world premiere by the Symphony's Composer-in-Residence Narong Prangcharoen, who offers a musical tribute to the maestro with his piece, “Illuminating Journey,” which honors St.Clair's 25th anniversary with the orchestra, as well as his commitment to new music.

Segerstrom Center welcomes emerging vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant in four powerful performances this weekend, November 14 & 15 in Samueli Theater and will be accompanied by virtuoso pianist/composer Aaron Diehl.

From turbulent, agitated and ominous to lyrical and tender—it's a passionate journey the audience won't soon forget when Pacific Symphony and guest pianist Haochen Zhang deliver Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in all its glory. Following Zhang's BBC Proms debut, The Telegraph (United Kingdom) called the international piano sensation “one of those hot young Chinese virtuosi everyone's talking about.” Led by Bulgarian-born guest conductor Rossen Milanov, the orchestra then performs a work by Brahms, as the composer steps out of Beethoven's shadow with his rich, ingenious Second Symphony. The cheery and almost pastoral mood of the piece often invites comparisons with Beethoven's Sixth Symphony. Rounding out the versatile program is Thomas Adès' “Three Studies from Couperin,” of which The Jerusalem Post wrote: “Such a combination of enchanting, sensitive lyricism and hypnotizing forcefulness is a phenomenon encountered very rarely.”

Ardani Artists will present the UK premiere of Diana Vishneva: On the Edge at the London Coliseum for just three performances, 14th 16th and 18th April 2015. A star of the Mariinsky Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, the programme celebrates her extraordinary technique and artistic versatility.

Bringing in a new and surprising take on the legend of Robin Hood, Visible Fictions makes a stop at Segerstrom Center for the Arts with a production The Scotsman newspaper calls, 'A timely contemporary twist on the story.' Created by the company that brought the hit show Jason and the Argonauts to stages all over the world, The Adventures of Robin Hood breathes life into the outlaw we all know so well. Co-Commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Robin Hood comes to Samueli Theater this weekend, November 8 & 9 for three performances only.

Fans of live stand-up comedy will have added reason to give thanks as popular actor and comedian Aziz Ansari comes to Segerstrom Center with two hilarious shows on the eve of Thanksgiving, Wednesday, November 26 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Tango Buenos Aires, the internationally acclaimed and most uncompromisingly authentic Tango company in the world, will make its third appearance at Segerstrom Center for the Arts dancing four performances of Song of Eva Peron January 17 & 18, 2015 in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Song of Eva Peron journeys through the sensational life of Argentina's formidable First Lady with powerful and seductive music and dance.

Standards made wildly popular by the great male nightclub singers of the 1950s—Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Bobby Darin and others—electrify the concert hall for the opening of Pacific Symphony's 2014-15 Pops Season. This high-energy show features award-winning vocalist Michael Andrew, who was praised on Larry King Live, “as one of the great singers of all time.” Andrew headlined the world-famous Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center for two years as its main singer and bandleader. He was also the band leader and singer for Merv Griffin's “Coconut Club” at The Beverly Hilton before creating his hit musical comedy, “Mickey Swingerhead and The Earthgirls” and the 18-piece Atomic Big Band featured in the film “Poseidon.” Now taking orchestras by storm in cities across America, Andrew joins the Symphony, led by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, to recall the “good old days” when music was swinging, jazzy and always came with a Big Band.

Segerstrom Center's Chamber Music Series continues on Saturday, January 31, 2015 with the acclaimed Szymanowski Quartet. For its third appearance, the Warsaw-based ensemble will perform traditional, popular and rare works by Polish composers Marcin Leopolita, Wac?aw of Szamotu?y, Krzysztof Penderecki and Graz?yna Bacewicz. Pianist Joseph Kalichstein makes his Center debut performing Chopin's Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 and Dvor?a?k's Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 8. There will be a free Preview Talk by musicologist and author Herbert Glass at 7:15 p.m. in Samueli Theater.

Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (PSYWE) opens its 2014-15 season with a new music director, Gregory X. Whitmore, who leads the ensemble in a lively display of youthful musicality and captivating wind repertoire. Titled “Exclamations!” the fall concert features two works by one of the 20th century's most prolific composers of music for concert band, Alfred Reed. His majestic “Alleluia! Laudamus Te!” opens the program, while the authentic folk melodies of “Armenian Dances” serve as the finale. In between, Scandinavian composer Johan Halvorsen's “Entry March of the Boyars”—a stately yet lively piece, tinged with exoticism and full of rhythmic excitement—is followed by Eric Whitacre's beautiful poem-based composition “Lux Aurumque,” originally written for a virtual choir. PSYWE's concert takes place on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Pacific Chorale, the resident choir of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, is 'mixing it up' in their opening night concert, with selections ranging from lyric - to triumphant - to tragic. The choir will perform with members of Pacific Symphony's brass ensemble and organist Jung-A Lee; Maestro John Alexander, conducting.

Following the highly successful and internationally celebrated milestone of its 30th anniversary, the critically acclaimed Hagen Quartet makes its Segerstrom Center debut tonight, October 28 at 8 p.m. in Samueli Theater.

The exceptionally talented Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) begins its 2014-15 Cheng Family Foundation Youth Orchestra concert series with a “Fall Concert,” featuring beautiful and challenging music by Leonard Bernstein, Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Ottorino Respighi. Led by Assistant Conductor Alejandro Gutiérrez, the awe-inspiring young musicians open the concert with the grand and cheerful music of Bernstein's Overture to “Candide.” Then, “Swan Lake Suite” (selections) shines, showcasing Tchaikovsky's gift for melody. To conclude, brass musicians from the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (PSYWE) join in to play Respighi's “Pines of Rome,” an Italian tone poem that achieved success at a time when opera dominated the music scene.

Fewer boo!(s), more clues this Halloween! With the help of everyone's favorite detective, Pacific Symphony invites children and families to help solve the mystery of a haunted violin during this morning of music, laughter and clue-finding fun—“A Sherlock Holmes Halloween.” This first concert of the 2014-15 Family Musical Mornings series presented by Farmers and Merchants Bank is a campy, comedic turn from the traditional Halloween fare, and is appropriate for all ages, especially those ages 5-11. While leading the orchestra in Saint-Saëns' spooky “Danse Macabre,” Assistant Conductor Alejandro Gutiérrez hears a mysterious violin haunting the concert hall. To find out who is behind this shadow sound (played by brilliant young artist Francisco Fullana, who recently won the Johannes Brahms International Violin Competition), he asks for assistance from his “good friends,” Sherlock Holmes (played by Rich Wordes) and Watson (played by Stephanie Draude), to get to the bottom of the case.

—“Cathedrals of Sound,” the first Music Unwound concert of Pacific Symphony's season, offers an evening of inspiration, awe and ambience, bathed in waves of sound and reminiscent of the unique spiritual journey taken in 2010, when world-renowned organist Paul Jacobs and the remarkable Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey made their first appearance together with the orchestra. In 2014, the Fathers return to fill the hall with their splendid, sonorous and worshipful voices, and Jacobs performs on the William J. Gillespie Concert Organ for this all-new program. The concert opens with a rarely performed and powerful work of the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, his “Church Windows.” Inspired by stained glass artistry, it is a work that Pacific Symphony recorded in 1983 with founding music director, Keith Clark. Plus, the rich voices of the Fathers perform the Gregorian chants that inspired Maurice Duruflé—whose transcendent “Requiem” concludes the program and features vocalists mezzo-soprano Elise Quagliata, baritone William Berger and Pacific Chorale (Artistic Director John Alexander).