Pacific Symphony Announces SYMPHONY IN SPACE, 2/4

It's a galactic voyage of musical discovery when Pacific Symphony's Family Musical Mornings, presented by Farmers and Merchants Bank, brings to the stage "Symphony in Space," a fun and humor-filled concert packed with exciting kid-friendly music from "Star Wars," Holst's "The Planets" and more! Assistant Conductor Maxim Eshkenazy launches the orchestra into space with the power of music and assistance from Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) in their annual side-by-side.

Along the way, they meet two aliens from Jupiter, a funny wizard named Darth Major, his assistant Darth Minor and a kid named Larry. Featuring authentic footage of space from NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center and Space Telescope Science Institute projected on the big screen, the concert takes place Saturday, Feb. 4, at 10 and 11:30 a.m. in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall with a Musical Carnival beginning at 9 a.m. (for the 10 a.m. concert) and 12:15 p.m. (for the 11:30 a.m. concert). Written and directed by Andreas Kraemer, "Symphony in Space" features actors Sebastián Hinton, Brooke Peterson, John Pick and Jake Dower. 

Tickets are $22-39; for more information or to purchase tickets call (714) 755-5799 or visit  www.PacificSymphony.org. 

my own orchestra, Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, joining us for a side-by-side," says Maestro Eshkenazy, who is the Youth Orchestra's music director. "This year, PSYO is more prepared than ever before because they took some of these pieces on tour to Bulgaria and performed them again last September."

With the spotlight on the brass instruments, the concert opens with "The Great Gate of Kiev" from Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" and features John Williams' "Imperial March," "Princess Leia's Theme" and the Main Title from "Star Wars." Emphasizing the grandeur and diversity of space, the program includes Richard Strauss's electrifying introduction to "Also Sprach Zarathustra" (well known from the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey") and the movements "Mars" and "Jupiter," from Holst's "The Planets." 

"When you think about every major movie about space, you automatically think of great music," continues Eshkenazy. "It's something about the volume, the infinity, the endless distance of space that has inspired these tremendous musical ideas from composers like John Williams and Gustav Holst, which are so terrific and so fun to play. For this concert, I hope to share a love of orchestral music and open the door of exploring the idea of how everything is related in our world."

Designed for children of all ages, but especially those ages 5-11, the 45-minute concert includes a Musical Carnival before or after the show. Kids may recognize special guests from the 501^st Legion and the Rebel Legion, dressed like characters from "Star Wars" and ready for a photo op. Other hands-on activities include a Spotlight on the Brass, Ask the Orchestra, Instrument Test Drive, Meet the Musicians, Meet the Young Musicians, crafts, fun and games and musical enjoyment for everyone.

Family Musical Mornings continues Saturday, March 3, as the orchestra performs the enchanting story of "Hansel and Gretel" in a condensed version of Humperdinck's opera featuring talented singers. Children are invited to dress up like their favorite fairy tale character for the season's final concert, "Happily Ever After?" featuring selections from Tchaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty" on May 12.