Camerata Pacifica Unveils New Season

Acclaimed chamber music ensemble Camerata Pacifica will open its 28th season in September with a remarkable trio of works by Pulitzer Prize winner John Harbison and Russian composing titans Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich. The group will present a total of eight eclectic programs in four Southern California cities over the course of 2017-18, including the world premiere of "24 Preludes for Viola and Piano" by Lera Auerbach, as well as compositions by Osvaldo Golijov, David Bruce, Messiaen, Bartók, Debussy, and Beethoven, among many others. Season subscription sales are underway.

"Innovation and artistic excellence have long served as Camerata Pacifica's guiding precepts, and this season's program is in keeping with that tradition, both from the standpoint of the works themselves and the performance opportunities they offer our incredible musicians," said Artistic Director and Principal Flute Adrian Spence. "We are excited to build on the momentum clearly evident throughout last season, and present a program that is challenging yet deeply rewarding for performers and audiences alike."

Renowned for its adventurous programming and world-class musicianship, Camerata Pacifica presents concerts in Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Marino, and Los Angeles. According to The Irish Times, the group is a "miracle of modern artistic organization." The Los Angeles Times has described its performances as "vividly propulsive and dramatic," while the Santa Barbara News-Press has hailed its "ever-impressive and indispensable" music-making.

The ensemble's season-opening program will include Prokofiev's Sonata for Flute and Piano in D Major, Mr. Harbison's lone String Trio - commissioned by Camerata Pacifica - and Shostakovich's Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor. In addition to Mr. Spence, featured performers will include violinist Paul Huang, violist Richard O'Neill, cellist Ani Aznavoorian, and pianist Inna Faliks. Performances will take place at 3 pm on September 10 (Ventura), 7:30 pm on September 12 (San Marino), 8 pm on September 14 (Los Angeles), and 7:30 pm on September 15 (Santa Barbara).

In October, Camerata Pacifica will present Carl Vine's Inner World, William Kraft's Encounters V, Mr. Golijov's Mariel, Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words, and David Bruce's The Consolation of Rain. The latter work was commissioned by Camerata Pacifica and premiered by the ensemble during the 2015-16 season. In addition to Ms. Aznavoorian (cello), featured performers will include oboist Nicholas Daniel, harpist Bridget Kibbey, and percussionist Svet Stoyanov. Performances will take place at 3 pm on October 15 (Ventura), 7:30 pm on October 17 (San Marino), 8 pm on October 19 (Los Angeles), and 7:30 pm on October 20 (Santa Barbara).

In November, Camerata Pacific will present Prokofiev's Violin Sonata No. 1 in F Minor and Messiaen's haunting and otherworldly Quartet for the End of Time. Featured performers will include clarinetist Bil Jackson, violinist Giora Schmidt, Ms. Aznavoorian (cello), and pianist Gilles Vonsattel. Performances will take place at 3 pm on November 12 (Ventura), 7:30 pm on November 14 (San Marino), 8 pm on November 16 (Los Angeles), and 7:30 pm on November 17 (Santa Barbara).

The ensemble will kick off 2018 with Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat Major, Messiaen's Appel interstellaire, Ligeti's Trio for Violin, Horn, and Piano, Britten's Suite for Violin and Piano, and Bartók's Out of Doors Suite. Featured performers will include horn player Martin Owen, violinist Kristin Lee, and Mr. Vonsattel (piano). Performances will take place at 8 pm on January 11 (Los Angeles), 7:30 pm on January 12 (Santa Barbara), 3 pm on January 14 (Ventura), and 7:30 pm on January 16 (San Marino).

Camerata Pacifica's February program will include Harty's In Ireland, Rabl's Four Songs, four works of lieder by Schubert (Der Wanderer, An Schwager Kronos, Wandrers Nachtlied, and Der Musensohn), and Loeffler's Four Poems for Voice, Viola, and Piano. Featured performers will include baritone Andrew Garland, Mr. Spence (flute), violist Paul Coletti, Ani Aznavoorian (cello), and pianist Warren Jones. Performances will take place at 3 pm on February 11 (Ventura), 7:30 pm on February 13 (San Marino), 7:30 pm on February 16 (Santa Barbara), and 8 pm on February 17 (Los Angeles).

In March, Camerata Pacifica will present Krzysztof Penderecki's Sextet for Clarinet, Horn, String Trio, and Piano; Petals by Kaija Anneli Saariaho; Somei Satoh's Birds in Warped Time II; and David Bruce's Gumboots. Featured performers will include Jose Franch-Ballester (clarinet), Martin Owen (horn), Kristin Lee (violin), Jason Uyeyama (violin), Richard O'Neill (viola), Ani Aznavoorian (cello), and Molly Morkoski (piano). Performances will take place at 7:30 pm on March 6 (San Marino), 8 pm on March 8 (Los Angeles), 7:30 pm on March 9 (Santa Barbara), and 3 pm on March 11 (Ventura).

Camerata Pacifica will present the world premiere of Lera Auerbach's "24 Preludes for Viola and Piano," as well as Schubert's Piano Trio in B-flat Major, in April. In addition to Ms. Auerbach and fellow pianist Warren Jones, featured performers will include violinist Paul Huang, violist Richard O'Neill, and cellist Ani Aznavoorian. Performances will take place at 7:30 pm on April 18 (San Marino), 8 pm on April 19 (Los Angeles), 7:30 pm on April 20 (Santa Barbara), and 3 pm on April 22 (Ventura).

The ensemble will conclude its season in May with Debussy's L'aprés midi d'un Faun, Satie's Gnossiennes (Nos. 1-3), Emma Ruth Richards' Hora de la Circ, Ravel's Don Quichotte à Dulcinée, and Mahler's Songs of a Wayfarer. Featured performers will include Andrew Garland (baritone), Adrian Spence (flute), Nicholas Daniel (oboe), Jose Franch-Ballester (clarinet), Martin Owen (horn), Gina Cuffari (bassoon), Kristin Lee (violin), Paul Huang (violin), Richard O'Neill (viola), Ani Aznavoorian (cello), Tim Eckert (double bass), Bridget Kibbey (harp), Ji Hye Jung (percussion), Molly Morkoski (piano), and Egle Januleviciute (keyboard). Performances will take place at 8 pm on May 10 (Los Angeles), 7:30 pm on May 11 (Santa Barbara), 3 pm on May 13 (Ventura), and 7:30 pm on May 15 (San Marino).

Complete artist biographies are available online at http://cameratapacifica.org/about/the-ensemble.

Priced from $125, subscriptions can be ordered online at http://cameratapacifica.org/season-tickets/order-tickets. Single-ticket sales will begin July 1; prices start at $50. To order tickets or for more information, call 805-884-8410.

Venues

Camerata Pacifica presents Santa Barbara concerts in Hahn Hall, located on the grounds of the Music Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Road. San Marino Concerts are presented at the Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road; Los Angeles concerts are presented at Zipper Hall, 200 South Grand Avenue (the Colburn School); and Ventura concerts are presented at Temple Beth Torah, 7620 Foothill Road.

Founded in 1990, Camerata Pacifica is dedicated to engaging audiences intellectually and emotionally by presenting the finest performances of familiar and lesser-known masterworks in venues that emphasize intimacy and a personal connection with the music and musicians. For more information, call 805-884-8410 or visit www.cameratapacifica.org.