We were in and out of Chongqing in less than 24 hours, arriving mid-afternoon Sunday and departing Monday morning for Beijing. The concert came in between. You’ll get no summing up of this mega-city from me. Fair to say, the
Mother’s Day in Chongqing
The mothers of Pacific Symphony pose backstage at our concert in Chongqing on Sunday night. Happy Mother’s Day!
Wednesday in Shanghai
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,
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.
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.