Yo-Yo Ma News

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. 

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) concludes its 2014-15 season with its Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16 concerts at historic Music Hall. Music Director Louis Langrée will lead the orchestra in an exotic program that features Austrian multi-percussionist Martin Grubinger in his CSO debut.

American Symphony Orchestra's AMERICAN VARIATIONS concert will celebrate the centenary of Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer George Perle in a special program.

St Urban, an intimate and innovative chamber music series, will premiere the second in its series of commissioned works tonight, May 9th at 7:30pm at SubCulture. This year's concert features 'Songs for Days To Come,' a piece composed by Kinan Azmeh and set to texts by Syrian poets living in exile.

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is thrilled to host reigning master of the pipa, Wu Man, with leading international chamber group, the Shanghai Quartet tonight, May 9 at 8pm in the Chan Shun Concert Hall. In its Vancouver premiere, this rare, beguiling collaboration titled A Night in Ancient and New China will feature the great music of China, from its traditional roots to more contemporary expressions.

ole, the world's fastest growing independent rights management company, is teaming with Indaba Music to launch a special cover-song contest in celebration of iconic rock band Rush's 40th Anniversary Tour, which kicks off May 8 in Tulsa, OK.

The Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players (cp2) finishes its Spring 2015 series at City Winery (1600 W Randolph, Chicago, IL) on Sunday, May 31 with a noon performance of 'Heavenly Harps: Dance Music from Handel to Muse.'

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.

April 29, 2015 – Richmond, Virginia Join everyone's favorite “Wascally Wabbit” and his friends Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Pepe Le Pew, Tweety, Sylvester and more on Saturday, May 16 at 6:00 p.m. at Richmond CenterStage's Altria Theater. Bugs Bunny at the Symphony II celebrates the world's favorite classic Looney Tunes, projected on the big screen, while the Richmond Symphony performs their exhilarating, original Carl Stalling scores live.

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.”

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents An Evening with Itzhak Perlman tonight, April 28, 2015at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Associate Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong leads the orchestra in Brahms's Symphony No. 2, and Itzhak Perlman plays Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor.

Celebrated violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter concludes her residency as one of this season's Carnegie Hall Perspectives artists with another April concert in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage.

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) announces its spectacular 2015/16 concert series, bringing a staggering array of virtuosic musicians, spirited vocal wonders, thrilling débuts, and anticipated returns to the acoustically exquisite Chan Shun Concert Hall. From passionate flamenco to cherished American folk, from energized West African pop to stirring Indian sitar music, the season's performances defy standards and transcend genres, promising to inspire and amaze.

Today, April 25 at 2:30 p.m., EDT, medici.tv (www.medici.tv) will present a free, live webcast of the New York Philharmonic's concert, conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert, of 20th- and 21st-century music at the newly opened Philharmonie de Paris, marking the first time an American orchestra is performing at the venue.

?The Celebrity Series of Boston announced its 2015-2016 season today, marking 77 years of bringing the world's greatest performing artists to Boston. The season opens on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 with author and speaker David Sedaris. In total, the 2015-2016 season will include 48 music, dance and entertainment engagements. The 2015-16 season is sponsored by Amy and Joshua Boger.

Yamaha announced that Kevin 'K.O.' Olusola, cellist and beat-boxer for the Grammy Award-winning vocal quintet Pentatonix, has joined the Yamaha Artist roster. He is currently playing an SVC-110SK Silent Cello on tour with the group.

Jeffrey Kahane will return to the New York Philharmonic to conduct and perform an all-Mozart program featuring Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 20 and 21 and Symphony No. 38, Prague, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 5 at 11:00 a.m.; and Saturday, June 6 at 8:00 p.m.

St Urban, an intimate and innovative chamber music series, will premiere the second in its series of commissioned works on May 9th at 7:30pm at SubCulture. This year's concert features "Songs for Days To Come," a piece composed by Kinan Azmeh and set to texts by Syrian poets living in exile.