At-Home-Together Online - May

The clips are listed in reverse chronological order, so be sure to scroll down and watch them all!

May 31, 2020

Yu-Tong Sharp Plays "Méditation" from "Thaïs"

Symphony violinist Yu-Tong Sharp performs the "Méditation," a symphonic intermezzo from the opera "Thaïs" by French composer Jules Massenet. Originally composed and premiered in 1894, this piece still knows how to tug at your heart strings, especially with Yu-Tong's emotional performance.

May 30, 2020

Rob Slack Plays "My Little Clam"

Principal Percussionist Robert Slack returns with a slightly different style: samba! Originally written for jazz ensemble, Gordon Goodwin's "The Little Clam," is a exciting piece, which Slack tackles with ease.

May 29, 2020

Ben Smolen and Meredith Crawford in a Devienne Duo

In case you missed it live on Instagram, here's Principal Flutist Ben Smolen's socially-distanced duet with Principal Violist Meredith Crawford: François Devienne's Duo in C Minor. Smolen says: "Sometimes you gotta just get outside and say hi to friends! I’m lucky to call Principal Violist Meredith Crawford my neighbor, so I skipped over to play a quick and distant afternoon duet together."

May 29, 2020

Yu-Tong Sharp Plays Elgar's "Salute to Love"

Check out Elgars' "Salut d'Amour" performed here by Pacific Symphony violinist Yu-Tong Sharp in her home.

May 27, 2020

Taps Across America

Trumpeters across the country followed the call of a CBS News correspondent to perform the military musical salute, "Taps" at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day from their front yards, in tribute to those that have fallen. Principal Trumpet Barry Perkins answered the call.

May 25, 2020

Yu-Tong Sharp Plays a Love Theme by Morricone

Symphony violinist Yu-Tong Sharp performs Ennio Morricone's "Love Theme" from the 1998 Italian drama, "Legend of 1900" in her home.

May 24. 2020

Carl's Musical Pick of the Week #4

Music Director Carl St.Clair discusses his fourth Musical Pick of the Week: "This one is the second movement from Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. There is a bit more talking in that I read from Beethoven’s letter, the Heiligenstadt Testament about his isolation and despair due to his deafness."

Here is the live performance of Bernstein conducting the Vienna Phil in a performance of the second movement:

May 23, 2020

Rob Slack Plays a Kettle Drum March by Philador

Principal Percussionist Robert Slack performs a self-duet of "March for Two Pairs of Kettle Drums" by Andre Philador from his home studio.

May 22, 2020

Robert Schumitzky and Erin Breene Pelay Piazzolla - Part 2

Pacific Symphony violinist Robert Schumitzky and his wife, cellist Erin Breene, are joined by pianist Ines Irawati to perform Astor Piazzolla's "Primavera Porteña" from a distance.

"Primavera Porteña" is the third in a set of four tango compositions Piazzolla wrote. By giving the adjective "porteño," referring to those born in Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital city, Piazzolla gives an impression of the four seasons in Buenos Aires.

May 21, 2020

Joshua Ranz Plays a Mahler Scherzo

Symphony bass clarinetist Joshua Ranz returns with a special self-quartet performance of Mahler's "Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt" from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" ("The Boy's Magic Horn"), a collection of musical settings of German folk poems.

May 21. 2020

Jennise Hwang Plays "Czárdás"

Assistant Principal Second Violin Jennise Hwang performs Italian composer Vittorio Monti's "Czárdás," an extremely fun and "folkloric" piece based off the the Hungarian folk dance of the same name. Check out this duet version, featuring violin and double-bass!

May 21. 2020

Doug Basye's Musical Pick of the Week

Assistant Principal Bass for Pacific Symphony, Doug Basye, gives us a quarantine update from his home - jigsaw puzzles, Enigma Variations, and more! In this latest Quarantine Clip, Doug his love for Elgar's Enigma Variations, with some help from his dog, Fury.

Here is the "Nimrod" variation from Edward Elgar's "Enigma Variations," performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

May 20, 2020

Warren Hagerty Plays Bach - Part 36

Principal Cellist Warren Hagerty performs the final episode of his 36-part "Bach Project," the Gigue from the composer's Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012.

May 20, 2020

Robert Slack Plays a Percussion Etude

Symphony Principal Percussionist Robert Slack performs a challenging and energetic étude, "My Friend Norman" by the great percussionist John S. Pratt

May 18, 2020

Warren Hagerty Plays Bach - Part 35

In this penultimate episode of "The Bach Project," Principal Cellist Warren Hagerty performs the two Gavottes from the composer's Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012.

May 17, 2020

Music Director Carl St.Clair’s Musical Picks #3

Check out Music Director Carl St.Clair's Musical Picks of the Week, his third installment of this virtual series! Videos of his picks can be found below.

Carl's Pick #1

Lynn Harrell Performing with the New York Philharmnic at the age of 16

Carl's Pick #2

The Papal Concert to commemorate the holocaust; The Vatican, Rome, April 7, 1994. Lynn Harrell performs "Kol Nidrei" for cello and orchestra, Op. 47 by Max Bruch. Royal Philharmonic, Sir Gilbert Levine, conductor.

May 17, 2020

Laszlo Mezo and Friends Play Handel

Symphony cellist Laszlo Mezo and his students play Handel's "Lascia ch'io pianga" from his opera "Rinaldo" — arranged for 25 cellos! Laszlo writes: "I'm so proud of my students, who helped this project come to life!"

May 16, 2020

Warren Hagerty Plays Bach - Part 34

Principal Cellist Warren Hagerty plays the Sarabande from Bach's Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012.

May 15, 2020

Cindy and Tony Ellis Perform a World Premiere by Peter Boyer

Celebrated "Ellis Island" composer and longtime friend of the Symphony Peter Boyer has graciously written a piece for the husband-and-wife dynamic duo of Symphony musicians Cindy and Tony Ellis. While there isn't much repertoire for a flute-and-trumpet duo, Boyer wrote something that should perk up your ears, and your spirits! Enjoy this latest Quarantine Clip - a huge THANK YOU to Peter Boyer for this piece as well.

May 14, 2020

Warren Hagerty Plays Bach - Part 33

Principal Cellist Warren Hagerty plays the Courante from Bach's Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012.

May 14, 2020

Outdoor Musical Moments with Barry Perkins

Barry Perkins, our principal trumpet player, has put together some of his favorite Musical Moments of the past weeks while in quarantine - his son even makes a cameo appearance!

May 13. 2020

Warren Hagerty Plays Bach - Part 32

Principal Cellist Warren Hagerty plays the Allemande from Bach's Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012.

May 11, 2020

Distance Trio - The Sequel

Our superstar Symphony musicians join forces again for another Distance Trio, as Principal Flute Ben Smolen, Principal Violist Meredith Crawford and Principal Bass Michael Franz perform the second movement of Bach's Flute Sonata in E-flat Major. Siciliano.

May 11, 2020

Jennise Hwang Plays "Parks and Recreation" Theme

Assistant Principal Second Violin Jennise Hwang and David Connor perform this awesome duet version of the opening theme to NBC's hit comedy, "Parks & Recreation."

May 10, 2020

Jeanne Skrocki and Laura Evans Plays Mozart

Assistant Concertmaster Jeanne Skrocki and her daughter, Symphony substitute violinist Laura Evans, perform a special Mother's Day Quarantine Clip together: Mozart's "Der Spiegel (The Mirror) Duet." This piece is a mirror-canon, meaning that the two melodic lines are inversions of each other - check it out!

May 9. 2020

Warren Hagerty Plays Bach - Part 31

Principal Cellist Warren Hagerty continues his ongoing "Bach Project" with the opening movement of Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012, the Prelude.

May 8, 2020

Dennis and Heather Kim Play Leclair

Concertmaster Dennis Kim and his daughter, Heather are taking advantage of their time in quarantine with this lovely, lyrical performance of the Gavotte from Leclair's Violin Sonata No. 5.

May 7, 2020

Warren Hagerty Plays Bach - Part 30

Warren Hagerty performs the Gigue, the final movement of Bach's Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011.

May 6, 2020

Alice Miller-Wrate and Family Play Robert Pound's "Air"

Symphony violinist Alice Miller-Wrate joins forces with her daughters as they perform an impromptu concert on their porch for Alice's father-in-law, and their neighborhood! Enjoy their performance of Robert Pound's "Air" from his Suite for Violin and Harpsichord, played here on violins and cello.

May 5, 2020

Warren Hagerty Plays Bach - Part 29

Warren Hagerty performs the Gavottes I & II from Bach's Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011.

May 3, 2020

Warren Hagerty Plays Bach - Part 28

Principal Cellist Warren Hagerty performs the Sarabande from Bach's Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011.

May 1, 2020

Warren Hagerty Plays Bach - Part 27

Principal Cellist Warren Hagerty plays the Courante from Bach's Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011.