Symphony on the Air

Pacific Symphony currently isn't able to perform for you live, but you can still enjoy complete performances of great music this summer from the comfort of your own home when Classical KUSC rebroadcasts the live recordings of Pacific Symphony's 2019-20 Classical Series concerts.

Classical KUSC

Pacific Symphony’s official classical radio station, KUSC 91.5 FM broadcasts our Classical Series concerts to over half a million listeners in Southern and Central California. Popular radio personality Rich Capparela hosts the broadcasts, which include fascinating interviews with Music Director Carl St.Clair, guest artists and Symphony musicians.

In addition, we are offering Live Preview Talks on Facebook Live and Zoom at 6 p.m. before each rebroadcast. You can sign up to watch these live sessions on the individual concert broadcast pages.

The performances of our 2019-20 Classical Series will be broadcast Sundays at 7 p.m on KUSC 91.5 FM on the following dates:

Sunday, July 26 | 7 p.m.

Carmina Burana

Carl St. Clair, conductor
Benjamin Pasternack, piano
Celena Shafer, soprano
Christopher Pfund, tenor
Hugh Russell, baritone
Pacific Chorale — Rob Istad, artistic director
Southern California Children’s Chorus — Lori Loftus, artistic director

BEETHOVEN: Egmont Overture
BEETHOVEN: Choral Fantasy
ORFF: "Carmina Burana"

Carmina Burana Program Notes

Live Preview Talk

Ahead of our first KUSC rebroadcast virtual event, Music Director Carl St.Clair discussed the concert with pianist Benjamin Pasternack and KUSC host Rich Capparela for this special live preview talk.

Joining the live preview talk from our first KUSC rebroadcast event, Orff's immense "Carmina Burana," are the wonderful vocal soloists who helped ensure the vocal power of this incredible concert, from our Opening Night in 2019. Vocal soloists interviewed in this segment are: Celena Shafer, tenor; Christopher Pfund, tenor; and Hugh Russell, baritone.

Sunday, August 2 | 7 pm

Tchaikovsky's "Pathétique"

Carl St. Clair, conductor
Dennis Kim, violin

JOHN WILLIAMS: "Tributes! For Seiji"
SAINT-SAËNS: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
RAVEL: "Tzigane"
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6, "Pathétique"

Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" Program Notes

Live Preview Talk

Concertmaster Dennis Kim joins Music Director Carl St.Clair and KUSC host and longtime friend of the Symphony, Rich Capparela, for this live preview talk. Dennis discusses performing "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso" by Saint-Saëns, and Ravel's "Tzigane."

Music Director Carl St.Clair and Rich Capparela discuss John William's "Tributes! For Seiji," a work written in tribute to the beloved conductor, someone with whom Carl St.Clair has a deep connection and history.

Carl St.Clair explains why he included Tchaikovsky's "Pathétique" in his 30th anniversary season: the symphony was part of his very first concert as music director of Pacific Symphony. They also discuss the historical and personal setting in which Tchaikovsky found himself while composing this piece, his Sixth Symphony.

Sunday, August 9 | 7 pm

Rhapsody in Blue

Mei-Ann Chen, conductor
Aaron Diehl, piano

GEORGE CHADWICK: "Jubilee" from "Symphonic Sketches"
FLORENCE PRICE: "Dances in the Canebrakes"
FLORENCE PRICE: Piano Concerto in One Movement
GEORGE GERSHWIN: "Rhapsody in Blue"
GEORGE GERSHWIN: "An American in Paris"

Classical 3 - Rhapsody in Blue Program Notes

Sunday, August 16 | 7 p.m.

Beethoven's Seventh

Carl St. Clair, conductor
Vadym Kholodenko, piano

ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL: Adagio for Carl’s 30th (World Premiere)
PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 3
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7

Beethoven's Seventh Program Notes

Live Preview Talk

KUSC host and longtime friend of the Symphony, Rich Capparela, joins Music Director Carl St.Clair for another KUSC rebroadcast Live preview talk, featuring renowned American cinema composer Elliot Goldenthal! They discuss a piece from last December's Beethoven's Seventh concert, the world premiere of Elliot Goldenthal's "Adagio for Carl's 30th."

Sunday, August 23 | 7 pm

Beethoven's Violin Concerto

Christian Arming, conductor
Clara-Jumi Kang, violin

BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 8

Beethoven's Violin Concerto Program Notes

Beethoven's Violin Concert Live Preview Talk

Music Director Carl St.Clair and KUSC host Rich Capparela join forces again for another live preview talk, this time to discuss Beethoven's Violin Concerto, and Dvorak's Eighth Symphony, a piece Rich calls "uncharacteristically sunny." This concert was conducted by Christian Arming, and featured Clara Jumi-Kang as soloist.