Henry Segerstrom News

Pacific Symphony announces pianist Joyce Yang in a powerful finale of "Rachmaninoff's Mighty Third."

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.

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.

Grammy Award-winning bassist and jazz artist Charlie Haden and his ensemble Quartet West are marking their 25th anniversary with a concert as part of the Center's own 25th milestone season.

Pacific Symphony announces pianist Joyce Yang in a powerful finale of "Rachmaninoff's Mighty Third."

Thanks to a generous and rare grant from the National Endowment of Humanities (NEH), Pacific Symphony is about to dive into a new education initiative-"Dvorak and America"-led by Music Director Carl St.Clair and developed by New York-based author/scholar and Pacific Symphony artistic advisor, Joseph Horowitz.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Pacific Symphony fills the hall with love songs featuring legendary vocalist Roberta Flack singing sweet and sultry ballads from her chart-topping career. Internationally hailed as one of the greatest songstresses of her generation, Flack effortlessly traverses a broad musical landscape from pop to soul to folk to jazz. One of only two artists to win back-to-back Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Flack has immortalized the songs, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly with His Song," which she performs along with such hits as "Where Is the Love," "Tonight I Celebrate My Love" and more.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Pacific Symphony fills the hall with love songs featuring legendary vocalist Roberta Flack singing sweet and sultry ballads from her chart-topping career. Internationally hailed as one of the greatest songstresses of her generation, Flack effortlessly traverses a broad musical landscape from pop to soul to folk to jazz. One of only two artists to win back-to-back Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Flack has immortalized the songs, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly with His Song," which she performs along with such hits as "Where Is the Love," "Tonight I Celebrate My Love" and more.

Music Director Carl St.Clair and Pacific Symphony launch the Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series and special events for 2012-13-an exceptional and diverse season designed to stimulate the mind, touch the heart and leave audiences uplifted. Embracing traditional repertoire, while introducing bright new interpretations, inventive staging and the best in established and emerging guest artists, the line-up includes numerous highlights. Among these are three new innovative Music Unwound programs: "Come to the Cabaret," Mozart's Requiem and Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring"; a continuation of the opera initiative that last season-"Symphonic Voices"-featuring Puccini's "Tosca"; critically acclaimed American Composers Festival enters its 13th year by exploring the music of the iconic American jazz age with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Pacific Symphony fills the hall with love songs featuring legendary vocalist Roberta Flack singing sweet and sultry ballads from her chart-topping career. Internationally hailed as one of the greatest songstresses of her generation, Flack effortlessly traverses a broad musical landscape from pop to soul to folk to jazz. One of only two artists to win back-to-back Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Flack has immortalized the songs, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly with His Song," which she performs along with such hits as "Where Is the Love," "Tonight I Celebrate My Love" and more.

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.

Segerstrom Center for Arts has announced that its presentation of Stephen Sondheim: In Conversation has been rescheduled for Friday, July 13, 2012 at 8 p.m. in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Grammy Award-winning bassist and jazz artist Charlie Haden and his ensemble Quartet West are marking their 25th anniversary with a concert as part of the Center's own 25th milestone season.

IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, the stage adaptation of the beloved classic film is coming to Segerstrom Center for the Arts this holiday season. Bring your loved ones for a heart-warming celebration of Americana from December 13 - January 1 in Segerstrom Hall.

"Oh, What a Night!" it will be as rock 'n' roll's Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons return to Segerstrom Center for an evening featuring their unforgettable classic hits on Friday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $43 and will go on sale Sunday, November 20 at 10 a.m. PST.

Sometimes even in disappointment, comes something wonderful, which was certainly the case with the magnificent impromptu showcase that occurred at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa on Saturday, October 29. A mixed blessing if there ever was one, the evening's original agenda--a one-on-one candid conversation between ASCAP's Director of Musical Theatre Michael Kerker and legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim--instead morphed into an enchanting 100-minute expanded tribute concert featuring two veteran Broadway powerhouses in their own right: Tony Award winners Christine Ebersole and Brian Stokes-Mitchell. This ad-hoc concert quickly assembled that afternoon ended up being such a magical night, filled with gorgeous, soul-stirring performances, lots of hearty laughs, and even the occasional tear-jerker.

Composer-lyricist and master of American musical theater Stephen Sondheim will appear at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Saturday, October 29 at 8 p.m. in Stephen Sondheim: In Conversation, a not-to-be-missed evening of story and song.

The month of December is filled with holiday cheer and entertainment as Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents three spirited seasonal programs: the holiday season kicks off with the Johnny Mathis Christmas Show (December 4), the classic musical Irving Berlin's White Christmas (December 13 - January 1) and celebrated opera baritone Paulo Szot in his Center debut (December 15 - 18).