Come join Pacific Symphony for a special treat this Christmas season, the "Nutcracker for Kids!" Conducted by Music Director of Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Roger Kaila, this concert will include an assortment of sweet selections from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker;" ballerinas from Orange County's acclaimed ballet company, Festival Ballet Theatre; actor James McHale; a grande finale sing-a-long; and a visit from the jolly man himself-Santa Claus! Performances for "The Nutcracker of Kids" will be on Dec. 8 at 10am or 11:30am at Pacific Symphony's winter home, Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa.
Two spectacular guest artists from seaons past return to Pacific Symphony: Rune Bergmann, the acclaimed Norwegian conductor, joined the Symphony last October with Rachmaninoff's formidable Symphony No. 2; and Philippe Quint, the Russian violinist described by BBC Music Magazine as "truly phenomenal." Quint joins Pacific Symphony under Bergmann's baton to perform Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, in a program bookended by the Overture to Mozart's "Don Giovanni," and Nielson's Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable," a piece composed against the backdrop of the first World War.
Usher in the New Year with the dazzling spectacle of Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. This concert, celebrating 24 years of bringing romance and Old-World elegance to North America, is a crystalline moment of timeless beauty. Inspired by the annual Viennese "Neujahrskonzert," this frothy celebration blends acclaimed European singers and dancers with a full orchestra in a fresh new program. Step into Vienna's Golden Age and spend the evening caught up in the joy, grandeur and music of a time past but not forgotten.
"Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore," Dorothy said upon stepping into the color-filled landscape of Oz bringing the magic of Technicolor pictures to moviegoers in the 1930s. Since then "The Wizard of Oz" has become a beloved classic with numerous adaptations including two re-interpretations of the Broadway stage, "Wicked" and "The Wiz." Pacific Symphony will bring the "Music of Oz" to life with vocalists Kelli Rabke, Law Dunford, Scott Coulter and pianist John Boswell on Nov. 9-10, led by Principal Pops conductor Richard Kaufman. The orchestra will play selected songs from each of the productions, including some of the beloved classics such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Defying Gravity."
Come learn all about the musical instruments that make up an orchestra with Pacific Symphony's "The Wizard's Spellbook" concert this Halloween season! The Symphony takes the stage Oct. 27 at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, led by Assistant Conductor and Music Director of Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Roger Kalia. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring their wands, broomsticks and cloaks as the orchestra will play the enchanting themes of John William's "Hedwig's Theme" from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," Ponchielli's "Dance of the Hours," and the educational and fun "The Conductor's Spellbook," music and story by composer Paul Dooley and narrated by the opera baritone, David Stoneman.
At its gala event, Celebrate Colburn, the Colburn School will honor renowned conductor Valery Gergiev, philanthropist Elizabeth Segerstrom, and acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota with the Richard D. Colburn award for their exemplary achievements and contributions to classical music and the performing arts in Los Angeles and throughout the world. Celebrate Colburn takes place at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Tuesday, October 23, 2018, at 7 p.m., followed by a post-performance dinner hosted at the School.
Pacific Symphony won't save the best for last in the opening of the 2018-19 Pops season with the sensational entertainment star Vanessa Williams. Led by Pops conductor, Richard Kaufman, the Symphony joins Williams to celebrate her career for two nights at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, with a program of her icon hits such as "That's Entertainment," "Dreamin'," "Love Is Love," and "Save the Best for Last." The Symphony will also play the Hollywood themes from the film scores of "Splash," "The Producers," "Young Frankenstein," "Blazing Saddles," "Animal House and Airplane."
'One of Asia's best' (Los Angeles Times), the Taiwan Philharmonic embarks on a North American tour this fall stopping in Costa Mesa (10/30), San Diego (10/31), Seattle (11/3), and San Francisco (11/5). The orchestra, led by Maestro Shao-Chia Lü, launches the tour by returning to Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa nearly two years after their highly acclaimed United States debut at the same hall in December 2016. This time the performance features star pianist Stephen Hough performing Liszt's dazzling first piano concerto. One of today's greatest living pianists, Hough is described by The Guardian as possessing 'the most perfect piano playing conceivable.' The concert name, 'From Formosa,' gives a nod to the historic republic on the island of Taiwan while the music traces Taiwan's classical music tradition with Taiwanese composer Gordon Chin's 'Dancing Song' from Three Aboriginal Songs for Orchestra. The first performance of the tour marks the work's North American premiere.
Pacific Symphony won't save the best for last in the opening of the 2018-19 Pops season with the sensational entertainment star Vanessa Williams. Led by Pops conductor, Richard Kaufman, the Symphony joins Williams to celebrate her career for two nights at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, with a program of her icon hits such as "That's Entertainment," "Dreamin'," "Love Is Love," and "Save the Best for Last." The Symphony will also play the Hollywood themes from the film scores of "Splash," "The Producers," "Young Frankenstein," "Blazing Saddles," "Animal House and Airplane."
Pacific Symphony recently approached Patina Restaurant Group, which handles concessions for Segerstrom Center for the Arts, to discuss ideas to add a sense of occasion to the orchestra's 40th anniversary season. The celebrated Patina Restaurant Group is a master in the creation of special events across the nation.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents the Ahmad Jamal Quartet for one performance only on October 19 at 8:00pm. The extraordinary night of music features jazz legend and celebrated pianist-composer Ahmad Jamal who returns to the center with his quartet which includes James Cammack, bass; Herlin Riley, drums; and Manolo Badrena, percussion.
Pacific Symphony and Classical KUSC 91.5FM have joined forces to launch a new classical music series of three Friday-night concerts designed to trim some of classical music's longhair image to present shorter, engaging programs in a casual and unstuffy atmosphere. Audiences are encouraged to dress casually. Each concert features fun, knowledge-enhancing activities before and after the program, making a complete experience of the evening. The series targets 25- to 45-year-olds who would like to know more about classical music, but these concerts can be enjoyed by everyone.
It's opening night again for Pacific Symphony, Orange County's premiere orchestra, this time for a very special 40th Anniversary season. Music Director Carl St.Clair, now celebrating his 39th year with the orchestra, leads a night of programming that begins with 'Shooting Stars' by Frank Ticheli, originally commissioned for Pacific Symphony's 25th anniversary and now extended in celebration of the orchestra's 40th anniversary.
Kodo -- the world's most celebrated professional taiko company -- will present their program Evolution in North America for the first time, visiting 27 cities in the U.S. and Canada between January and March 2019. Evolution invites audiences to step into the world of Kodo, created by their past, their present, and their dedication to the future of taiko performing arts. This production showcases Kodo's perpetual creative evolution under the artistic direction of the legendary Tamasaburo Bando. 2019 tour highlights include stops at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Chicago's Symphony Center and National Arts Center in Canada. Complete schedule below.
During Pacific Symphony's 40th Anniversary Season, the orchestra will celebrate cultural, scientific and historic bridges between old and new worlds. Through the performance and exploration of Antonin Dvo?ak's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World," Pacific Symphony and Music Director Carl St.Clair will reveal extraordinary artistic and historic links between United States and Czechoslovakia. The highlight of the concert will be a commemoration of the founding of Czechoslovakia 100 years ago. Dignitaries from the Czech Republic as well as from southern California will join the audience for this unique celebration. Featuring multimedia elements, this special concert entitled, "Bridges of Awakenings: From Czech Lands to America and Beyond," will take place on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 3 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa.
Paul Lewis's Haydn-Beethoven-Brahms project enters second season with two compelling new programmes. North American engagements in 2018-19 include dates with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Bernard Haitink, Beethoven at Carnegie Hall and Mozart in Montreal, and song recitals with regular duo partner Mark Padmore
Paul Lewis's Haydn-Beethoven-Brahms project enters second season with two compelling new programmes. North American engagements in 2018-19 include dates with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Bernard Haitink, Beethoven at Carnegie Hall and Mozart in Montreal, and song recitals with regular duo partner Mark Padmore.
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Orange County's premiere resident ballet company with an exciting gala performance where world-renowned ballet artists share their love and expertise of the craft with future, inspired young stars.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts joins The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Dizzy Feet Foundation to celebrate this year's 9th annual National Dance Day (NDD) on Saturday, July 28 from 1 - 8 p.m. National Dance Day is presented by The Dizzy Feet Foundation (DFF), co-founded by Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman. Segerstrom Center is the exclusive West Coast site and The Kennedy Center is the site of the East Coast celebrations.
