The first rehearsal of the tour — and last, I hear — in the afternoon, after an hour and twenty minute drive from the hotel to Shanghai Poly Grand Theatre. It’s a post-modern building, formidably austere to my eye, designed
Thursday: China itinerary
A day of travel and a concert for an orchestra on tour. (Click on photo to enlarge.) More about Wednesday as time permits.
Shanghai, Tuesday evening
Off last night (Tuesday) in a van, weaving through the streets into an older part of Shanghai, for a fan/media event. Violinist Pinchas Zukerman (our soloist on tour) and conductor Carl St.Clair chatted about the world of classical music and
Monday, wait, Tuesday in Shanghai
After a punishing 14-hour flight, the second and smaller portion (Group B) of Pacific Symphony arrived in the most populous city on Earth, in the most populous country on Earth — Shanghai, China — at approximately 6:30 a.m. local time,
André Watts, 16, debuts with New York Philharmonic
The 16-year-old André Watts debuts with the New York Philharmonic in a Young People’s Concert, nationally broadcast in prime time on CBS, Jan. 15, 1963. Leonard Bernstein introduces him with distinct references to Watts’ race. (His parents were Hungarian and
New subscription series: ‘Symphonic Voices’
Pacific Symphony has launched a new subscription series focused on the human voice. Dubbed “Symphonic Voices,” the four-concert package is centered on the annual semi-staged production of an opera, which next season will be Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” (Feb. 21, 23,
California symphonic concerts in May
For those who enjoy a good browse, this is an entertaining list provided by the Association of California Symphony Orchestras. See what orchestras around the state are up to this month. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Counties: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Colusa, Contra
Pacific Overtures: May
My monthly newsletter … Pacific Overtures. May, 2018.
Miscellany
After four critically acclaimed seasons, Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle” is no more…. Composer Jennifer Higdon wins $100,000 Nemmers Prize…. A new economic impact study shows that the Boston Symphony is pumping huge amounts into the local economy…. British orchestra
Pacific Symphony names new concertmaster
After more than a yearlong search, Pacific Symphony music director Carl St.Clair named violinist Dennis Kim as the orchestra’s new concertmaster today. He replaces concertmaster Raymond Kobler, who retired in the summer of 2016 after 17 years in the position.