Henry Segerstrom News

Pacific Symphony ends its season with Beethoven's crowning achievement, the Symphony No. 9, "Choral," featuring "Ode to Joy." The concert, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, features a fusion of orchestra and voices that includes Pacific Chorale and four world-class opera singers; plus, two timely works by Frank Ticheli: "Rest" (world premiere version for strings) and "Radiant Voices" provide a stunning prelude.

Known for three of the world's biggest gaming franchises ("Warcraft," "Starcraft" and "Diablo") played by millions of people, Blizzard selected the Symphony to perform the soundtrack for one of the most anticipated video games of the past five years. More than 100 Symphony musicians came together last July in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, where the score was performed under the baton of Eimear Noone and recorded live by Blizzard for "Diablo III."

Pacific Symphony ends its season with Beethoven's crowning achievement, the Symphony No. 9, "Choral," featuring "Ode to Joy." The concert, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, features a fusion of orchestra and voices that includes Pacific Chorale and four world-class opera singers; plus, two timely works by Frank Ticheli: "Rest" (world premiere version for strings) and "Radiant Voices" provide a stunning prelude.

The critically acclaimed production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES starring George Hamilton and Christopher Seiber arrives in Orange County at Segerstrom Center for the Arts July 24 - August 5.

Last season, Pacific Symphony asked "OC Can You Play With Us?" and got a resounding and positive response from community musicians across Orange County. This year, back by popular demand, the Symphony is offering four sessions over two nights for adult amateur musicians (ages 22 and older) to perform alongside the orchestra, under the direction of Music Director Carl St.Clair. Taking place tonight, April 30, and Tuesday, May 1, at 7 p.m., this year's event offers twice the number of spots-bringing the number of musicians to 200-for a unique opportunity to rehearse and perform selections from Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" on the stage of the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Although the program is considered full, the Symphony is pulling from a waiting list up until the event dates.

Pacific Symphony invites children and their families to help the orchestra build its own fairy tale for "Happily Ever After?," the final Family Musical Mornings concert of the season, presented by Farmers and Merchants Bank.

Music by Mozart, including some works he composed as early as age five, interspersed with lively enactments of the youthful composer's letters to his father create a vivid picture of this remarkable musical wunderkind at the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's (LACO) final Family Concert of the season, "Mozart & Me," on Sunday, May 6, 2012, 2 pm, at the Alex Theatre.

This May, California's Pacific Symphony features 'Cirque de la Symphonie,' a fusion of Cirque acts and classical and pops favorites and its upcoming concert, Schubert's Ninth. Get a sneak peek of the preparations for these two events in the videos below!

Before "Rent"-there was "La Boheme"-and now it's back for the kick-off of Pacific Symphony's new opera-vocal initiative, "Symphonic Voices." For three nights, the orchestra comes out of the pit and onto the stage for the presentation of one of Puccini's most popular and heartbreaking operas. Led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, "La Boheme's" timeless tale of carefree Bohemians and star-struck lovers features a cast of world-class opera singers, Pacific Chorale and the Southern California Children's Chorus-filling the stage with their astonishing voices. Inspired by St.Clair's successful career as an opera conductor in Europe, "Symphonic Voices" continues next season with another Puccini masterpiece of high emotion, grand tragedy and gorgeous music: "Tosca."

Before 'Rent'-there was 'La Bohème'-and now it's back for the kick-off of Pacific Symphony's new opera-vocal initiative, 'Symphonic Voices.' Check out the behind the scenes 'out of the pit' video below!

Last season, Pacific Symphony asked "OC Can You Play With Us?" and got a resounding and positive response from community musicians across Orange County. This year, back by popular demand, the Symphony is offering four sessions over two nights for adult amateur musicians (ages 22 and older) to perform alongside the orchestra, under the direction of Music Director Carl St.Clair. Taking place Monday, April 30, and Tuesday, May 1, at 7 p.m., this year's event offers twice the number of spots-bringing the number of musicians to 200-for a unique opportunity to rehearse and perform selections from Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" on the stage of the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Although the program is considered full, the Symphony is pulling from a waiting list up until the event dates.

Before "Rent"-there was "La Boheme"-and now it's back for the kick-off of Pacific Symphony's new opera-vocal initiative, "Symphonic Voices." For three nights, the orchestra comes out of the pit and onto the stage for the presentation of one of Puccini's most popular and heartbreaking operas. Led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, "La Boheme's" timeless tale of carefree Bohemians and star-struck lovers features a cast of world-class opera singers, Pacific Chorale and the Southern California Children's Chorus-filling the stage with their astonishing voices. Inspired by St.Clair's successful career as an opera conductor in Europe, "Symphonic Voices" continues next season with another Puccini masterpiece of high emotion, grand tragedy and gorgeous music: "Tosca."

The Pacific Symphony launches an exciting 2012-13 Pops season starring big-name guest artists, spectacular shows and some of the most treasured songs and genres of our time. From the "Empress of Soul," Gladys Knight, to Broadway showstoppers, the "Wicked Divas.'

Pacific Symphony Pops sweeps the audience off to a world of romance, wit, intrigue and remarkable music as the orchestra recreates the score-live!-to the classic film, "Casablanca," shown on the big screen. Led by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, the Symphony delivers the emotion captured in the triumphant soundtrack created by old Hollywood's best-known composer Max Steiner. Featuring the popular song "As Time Goes By," played by Sam (Dooley Wilson), the 1942 film is one from the Golden Age that has captured America's hearts for decades with the nostalgic love affair between Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman's characters. Set in exotic Morocco during World War II, with memorable characters, quotable dialogue-"We'll always have Paris," "Here's looking at you, kid"-and a beloved score, the film was an instant success, winning three Academy Awards including Best Picture and a nomination for Best Score.

Hector Olivera performs the final organ recital of Pacific Symphony's 2011-12 "Pedals and Pipes" series showcasing the 4,322-piped William J. Gillespie Concert Organ. Born in Buenos Aires, Olivera began playing the pipe organ at age 3, and at age 5 played for the legendary Eva Peron. Since attending The Juilliard School of Music, his interpretations of both classical and popular music have earned him standing ovations around the world. Olivera performs works by Bach, Clarke/Purcell, Franck, Liszt, a little improvisation and more for a one-night-only concert, Sunday, March 11, at 7 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Tickets are $15-59; for more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.

Last week, Segerstrom Center for the Arts (formerly the Orange County Performing Arts Center) announced its brand new Cabaret Series for the 2012 - 2013 Season. Once again, familiar Broadway talent will make up most of the Center's impressive Cabaret series, which include Tony Winners Lea Salonga, Betty Buckley, and Barbara Cook. Rounding out the line-up are husband-and-wife Broadway stars Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley, and Grammy-nominated artists Michael Feinstein and Jane Monheit (with the John Pizzarelli Quartet).

Pacific Symphony Pops sweeps the audience off to a world of romance, wit, intrigue and remarkable music as the orchestra recreates the score-live!-to the classic film, "Casablanca," shown on the big screen. Led by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, the Symphony delivers the emotion captured in the triumphant soundtrack created by old Hollywood's best-known composer Max Steiner. Featuring the popular song "As Time Goes By," played by Sam (Dooley Wilson), the 1942 film is one from the Golden Age that has captured America's hearts for decades with the nostalgic love affair between Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman's characters. Set in exotic Morocco during World War II, with memorable characters, quotable dialogue-"We'll always have Paris," "Here's looking at you, kid"-and a beloved score, the film was an instant success, winning three Academy Awards including Best Picture and a nomination for Best Score.

The captivating fairy tale opera, "Hansel and Gretel," comes to life in full orchestral and vocal color for Pacific Symphony's Family Musical Mornings' unique production of Humperdinck's beloved opera, created just for kids. Kicking off the Symphony's new opera-vocal initiative-which includes a production of Puccini's "La Boheme" this April and "Tosca" in February 2013-this 45-minute performance includes original narration and dialogue to introduce children to the beautiful and powerful instrument, the voice. Led by Assistant Conductor Maxim Eshkenazy, the orchestra and singers tell the familiar Brothers Grimm story of two siblings who venture into a magical forest to find a gingerbread house made of candy. But, beware! A wicked witch wants to turn them into a snack! Staged with costumes, props and scenery projected on the big screen. Presented by Farmers and Merchants Bank and underwritten by the Honorable H. Warren and Janet Siegel, "Hansel and Gretel" takes place Saturday, March 3, at 10 and 11:30 a.m., in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.