Henry Segerstrom News

Orange County, Calif.—May 20, 2015—A grand, meaningful and operatic evening of music awaits, as Music Director Carl St.Clair leads Pacific Symphony's final concert of his 25th anniversary season, “Fire and Water,” a program representing the innovative and defining characteristics of the orchestra. Furthering St.Clair's commitment to new music, the evening includes the world premiere of “Siren Songs” by Laura Karpman, accompanied by video and animation by Tempe Hale, who has used footage from Gregory MacGillivray, Academy-Award nominated cinematographer of films such as “The Living Sea” and “Dolphins.” Karpman's piece explores women and the ocean and is based on a set of poems by internationally known poet, Amy Gerstler, who is also a professor at UC Irvine. For the fiery finale, St.Clair leads the orchestra in selections from Wagner's epic “Götterdämmerung,” (“Twilight of the Gods”), featuring Metropolitan Opera superstar, Deborah Voigt, who brings her beautiful and powerful voice to Brünnhilde's famous “Immolation Scene.” 

Legendary trumpet-and-voice duo Herb Alpert and Lani Hall bring their unique mix of jazz, world and American pop music to Pacific Symphony for the final concert of the 2014-15 Pops Series. Joining musical forces in 2006, each half of this musical power couple brings an impressive résumé to the table. As a solo artist and leader of the Tijuana Brass, Alpert has sold more than 72 million records and placed 28 albums on the Billboard charts, including five at No. 1. His 2014 album, “Steppin' Out,” earned him his ninth Grammy Award, and in 2013, he was honored with the National Medal of Arts. His wife and music partner, Hall, rose to fame in 1966 as the lead singer of Sergio Mendes' group, Brasil '66. The two met and became friends when Brasil '66 was signed to A&M records by its co-founder, Alpert. Hall has the distinction of recording more than 22 albums in three different languages, four alongside her husband, and she earned a Grammy for her album, “Es Facil Amar.”

Pacific Symphony has reunited with Academy Award-winning composer Elliot Goldenthal to release the world-premiere recording of his “Symphony in G# Minor” on the Zarathustra Music label Tuesday, May 12. Goldenthal wrote the 22-minute work for Pacific Symphony and Music Director Carl St.Clair as part of the orchestra's 2014 American Composers Festival. This collaboration comes 20 years after the orchestra commissioned Goldenthal to write a piece for the 20th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Entitled “Fire Water Paper: A Vietnam Oratorio,” the hour-long work for orchestra and SATB chorus with soloists and a cello obbligato, was premiered in 1995, with the recording released in 1996 on Sony Classical Records, featuring renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

Orange County, Calif.-May 11, 2015-One of America's most versatile and prolific living composers, Andre Previn, joins Pacific Symphony as the honored guest and focus of the 15th American Composers Festival (ACF). Previn, who has been called one of America's least easily categorized musicians, began his remarkable career as a Hollywood "wunderkind" and a best-selling jazz pianist. Now 86, Previn has received four Academy Awards for his work in film, 10 Grammy Awards for his recordings (plus one more for his Lifetime Achievement), and he is also an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He's held a series of major conducting posts, including the L.A. Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra, but now exclusively composes. The concert is led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, whose great admiration for the legend shaped this year's ACF to reveal the scope of Previn's prowess as a composer. 

A festival of awe-inspiring musical performances awaits as the dedicated students of Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles (PSYE) present three season finale performances after an enriching season of musical growth. Bursting with youthful energy and stimulating music, the weekend kicks off at 3 p.m. today, May 9, with Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings (PSSS), as it invites the audience to experience "How Suite It Is," an artistic celebration of the orchestral suite and its adaptations over time. Tomorrow, May 10 at 1 p.m., Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (PSYWE) dives into works old and new during "Collaborations," which includes Bach's Fantasia in G Major, Katoh's "Madrid Inspiration" featuring guest saxophonist Kenneth Tse, and the world premiere of "The Rising Tide" by Pacific Symphony Composer-in-Residence Narong Prangcharoen. At 7 p.m. on May 10, Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) shines the spotlight on the four winners of this season's concerto competition and concludes with a musical journey through Soviet Russia by performing Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5.

'Courage of imagination' was the quality that the great Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi used when he described Henry T. Segerstrom (1923-2015). Noguchi praised Segerstrom for the combination of entrepreneurial drive and daring vision that he applied to everything he did, from establishing South Coast Plaza and building it into an unparalleled international destination for luxury shopping, to transforming his native Orange County, California into a culturally rich cosmopolitan community.

From simple beauty to dazzling grandeur, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, "Emperor" requires extreme virtuosity from its soloist, making it an ideal centerpiece for Pacific Symphony's upcoming concert, "Beethoven's 'Emperor.'" Pianist Barry Douglas, gold medal winner at the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, travels from Ireland to tackle this famous concerto under the direction of Grammy-winning guest conductor John Nelson. Nelson, a Costa Rican native, also leads the orchestra in a performance of Schumann's alternately broody and ebullient Symphony No. 2 in C Major, which was premiered in October 1846 under the direction of another well-known composer, Felix Mendelssohn. The Symphony opens the concert with Carl Maria von Weber's imaginative Overture to "Oberon," an opera of magic and elves.

Widely considered the greatest cellist alive today, Yo-Yo Ma makes a special Orange County appearance to honor Music Director Carl St. Clair's 25th anniversary season with Pacific Symphony.

Ina Garten, the Emmy Award-winning host of the Barefoot Contessa television show on Food Network and The New York Times best-selling author, comes to Segerstrom Center for the Arts on November 5, 2015 in Segerstrom Hall. Garten will bring her natural approach to food; entertaining tips, stories and maybe even some recipes. She will be joined on stage by moderator Tori Ritchie. Garten will deliver a charming insider's view of the hit TV show, now in its 11th season, and the pleasures of good food, cooked with love and passion, engaging the audience with an interactive Q&A.

'Courage of imagination' was the quality that the great Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi used when he described Henry T. Segerstrom (1923-2015). Noguchi praised Segerstrom for the combination of entrepreneurial drive and daring vision that he applied to everything he did, from establishing South Coast Plaza and building it into an unparalleled international destination for luxury shopping, to transforming his native Orange County, California into a culturally rich cosmopolitan community.

Immortal tunes made famous by 'Ol' Blue Eyes' Frank Sinatra will continue to work their magic on audiences at Segerstrom Center for the Arts during a one-of-a-kind multi-media experience by Frank Sinatra, Jr. tonight, May 2, 2015.

Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA plays in Orange County at Segerstrom Center for the Arts from August 5 - 16, 2015.

Out of more than 58 films that Alfred Hitchcock directed in his lifetime, "Vertigo" stands out as one of the best for its suspense, innovative camera use and haunting memorable score, making it an ideal choice for Pacific Symphony Pops to reinvigorate by performing the soundtrack live! During a symphonic night at the movies, the colorfully enhanced 1958 film plays on the big screen as Bernard Herrmann's hypnotic score is recreated by the orchestra, led by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman. Set in the hustle and bustle of San Francisco in the late 1950s, the romantic thriller stars James Stewart and Kim Novak, who were both praised for their performances. (Stewart won multiple awards for his role.) Driven by the motif of obsession, the film follows the life of retired detective John "Scottie" Ferguson, who suffers from a fear of heights and vertigo. After being reengaged to follow his friend's wife, Ferguson begins to fall dangerously in love with her.

Orange County, Calif.—April 28, 2015—A gala season awaits as great stars in entertainment lead the way to celebrate Richard Kaufman's 25-year legacy as principal pops conductor of Pacific Symphony. While last season marked the occasion of Music Director Carl St.Clair's 25th anniversary, 2015-16 puts the spotlight on Kaufman, who has championed the lighter side of the Symphony, bringing countless memorable artists to the stage. What better way to celebrate than with some of the best songs and genres of our time delivered by mega-watt stars and backed by the lush, magnificent sounds of the full symphony orchestra? This special season includes major headliners and the return of Orange County favorites including trumpeter extraordinaire Chris Botti, Broadway diva Bernadette Peters, comedy legend Martin Short and Golden-Age champion Michael Feinstein. The amazing acrobats of Cirque de la Symphonie return for A Cirque Christmas, and Classical Mystery Tour delivers dozens of Beatles hits as they were originally recorded with orchestra. Also, Stewart Copeland, former drummer for The Police, joins the Symphony to perform his score to the 1925 silent film, “Ben Hur.”

A festival of awe-inspiring musical performances awaits as the dedicated students of Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles (PSYE) present three season finale performances after an enriching season of musical growth. Bursting with youthful energy and stimulating music, the weekend kicks off at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, with Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings (PSSS), as it invites the audience to experience “How Suite It Is,” an artistic celebration of the orchestral suite and its adaptations over time. On Sunday, May 10 at 1 p.m., Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (PSYWE) dives into works old and new during “Collaborations,” which includes Bach's Fantasia in G Major, Katoh's “Madrid Inspiration” featuring guest saxophonist Kenneth Tse, and the world premiere of “The Rising Tide” by Pacific Symphony Composer-in-Residence Narong Prangcharoen. At 7 p.m. on May 10, Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) shines the spotlight on the four winners of this season's concerto competition and concludes with a musical journey through Soviet Russia by performing Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5.

A festival of awe-inspiring musical performances awaits as the dedicated students of Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles (PSYE) present three season finale performances after an enriching season of musical growth.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced its 30th International Dance Series, a season marked with important American, West Coast and Center premieres to be discovered and enjoyed by audiences from throughout Southern California. The distinctive personalities of each company in the Center's 2015 - 2016 International Dance Series come to life, from opulent and classical to daring, bold and contemporary.

Pacific Symphony invites its Family Musical Mornings audience to imagine what it would be like to live next door to one of the most-famous composers of all time during "Beethoven Lives Upstairs," the award-winning production by Classical Kids Live. Weaving masterful music and true stories from Beethoven's life into a dramatic tale, the concert tells the story of a young boy from Vienna named Christoph (Will J. Green), whose new neighbor is the one-and-only Beethoven. Through a lively exchange of letters with his uncle (Thad Avery), where their subject is the "madman" who lives upstairs, Christoph comes to understand Beethoven's gift, the beauty of his music and the torment of his deafness. With more than 20 excerpts packed into a 50-minute concert, the performance sweeps kids away with Beethoven's beautiful music. Led by Assistant Conductor Alejandro Gutierrez, the Symphony performs favorites including "Moonlight Sonata," "Fur Elise" and the world-famous Symphony No. 5 with the "da-da-da-dun" theme. Directed by Paul Pement, the adaptation of Barbara Nichol's acclaimed novel leaves the audience appreciating the genius of Beethoven and the diversity of his music from the big dramatic sounds to the sweet romantic melodies.

From simple beauty to dazzling grandeur, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor” requires extreme virtuosity from its soloist, making it an ideal centerpiece for Pacific Symphony's upcoming concert, “Beethoven's 'Emperor.'” Pianist Barry Douglas, gold medal winner at the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, travels from Ireland to tackle this famous concerto under the direction of Grammy-winning guest conductor John Nelson. Nelson, a Costa Rican native, also leads the orchestra in a performance of Schumann's alternately broody and ebullient Symphony No. 2 in C Major, which was premiered in October 1846 under the direction of another well-known composer, Felix Mendelssohn. The Symphony opens the concert with Carl Maria von Weber's imaginative Overture to “Oberon,” an opera of magic and elves.

Pacific Chorale, the resident choir of Segerstrom Center for the Arts (SCFTA), has announced its 48th season under the banner “Musical Journeys.” Six concerts are offered in a variety of subscription packages, as well as a free community Choral Festival concert this summer.