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Also, Spanish guitarist Pablo Sainz-Villegas performs Arturo Márquez’ concerto, filled with the warmth and light of the composer’s native Mexico

In the hands of an orchestra, music can be magic, transporting listeners to another world. Such is Alexander Shelley’s vision for the first concerts of his artistic and music designate year with Pacific Symphony taking place October 16-19 at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The program features evocative storytelling and masterful orchestration from both timeless and modern composers. The headliner is the magician of orchestration himself, Rimsky-Korsakov, who weaves together the tale of Scheherazade’s “One Thousand and One Nights,” allowing individual musicians to shine while evoking feelings of the sea and the hustle-and-bustle of an Arabian marketplace. The expressiveness of the classical Spanish guitar is taken to new heights by soloist Pablo Sainz-Villegas who performs Arturo Márquez’s Concerto for Guitar “Mystical and Profane”. The concert opens with GRAMMY® Award-Winner Jessie Montgomery’s bright and ebullient Starburst.

“These composers stretch the limits of what an orchestra can do and what music can represent. Through all three pieces on the program, we get to show off our tremendously talented Pacific Symphony musicians,” said Shelley, artistic and music director designate of Pacific Symphony. “We invite audience members to bring their imaginations and co-create the live experience with us. First, as we picture a starburst in the night sky, then as one of our great guitarists shares the radiance of two cultures meeting and uniting, and finally as we tell of Scheherazade’s triumph, transforming the bitter heart of a King with the power of story.”

Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst is a one-movement piece inspired by the idea of an exploding star. It bursts with energy, evoking a universe shimmering with power, creativity and positivity. Born in 1981 in New York City, Montgomery’s works have been described as “turbulent, wildly colorful and exploding with life” (The Washington Post).

Spanish guitarist Pablo Sainz-Villegas and Mexican composer Arturo Márquez worked together to create Márquez’s first Concerto for Guitar, named Mystical and Profane. Written specifically for Sainz-Villegas, the work explores the encounter of two cultures and music as an expression of union. The second movement features an enchanting clarinet theme, another favorite instrument of the composer, and the piece concludes with the romanesca dance, full of colorful orchestration.

“The first two pieces on the program are written by preeminent contemporary composers of different cultures. It’s important that the music of our times and the music of our culture is reflected onstage, and it’s meaningful to me to have both Jessie Montgomery and Arturo Marquez’ works on the concert as I begin my new chapter with Pacific Symphony,” continued Shelley. “Additionally, Pablo Sainz-Villegas is a thrilling soloist and artistic partner. I’m delighted our audiences will get to experience the alchemy between him and the musicians of Pacific Symphony.”

The concert finale is Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, a rich tapestry inspired by the legendary tales of “One Thousand and One Nights.” Across each movement, Shelley leads the orchestra on a storytelling journey, audibly filling the concert hall with lush melodies and imaginative sound. Concertmaster Dennis Kim will be heard as the lone violin, the voice of Scheherazade, who, after being introduced by harps and a woodwind choir, transports listeners to the exotic world created by the composer.

“Shelley Conducts Sheherazade” takes place Thursday-Saturday, October 16-18, at 8p.m. in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The concert includes a preview talk with KUSC midday host Alan Chapman at 7 p.m. A matinee performance of only Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” take place on Sunday, October 19, at 3 p.m.Tickets are $36-$252. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 858-0945 or visit pacificsymphony.org.

Pacific Symphony’s Classical Series is made possible by the Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation, with additional support from Classical California KUSC,Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa, and PBS SoCal.For additional bios and photos, please view Pacific Symphony 2025-26 Press Kit.

About Pacific Symphony
Pacific Symphony is the largest orchestra formed in the United States in the past 50 years and is ranked among the top orchestras in the U.S. by the League of American Orchestras. Founded in 1978, the Symphony has been led for 35 years by Carl St.Clair who is honored with the title of Music Director Laureate starting in the 2025-26 season.In 2024, Alexander Shelley was named Artistic and Music Director Designate for the 2025–26 season and will begin his full-time tenure in the 2026–27 season, marking a bold new chapter in the Symphony’s artistic evolution.

In its 47-year history, Pacific Symphony has gained national and international recognition, with recent highlights including a 2018 Carnegie Hall debut in celebration of composer Philip Glass; a five-city tour of China; and a PBS Great Performances broadcast of Peter Boyer’s “Ellis Island: The Dream of America.” In 2024, Pacific Symphony released the world-premiere recording of “Fiat Lux,” a stirring new commission by composer Sir James MacMillan performed with long-time artistic partner Pacific Chorale. The Symphony has been recognized with multiple ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and included among the country’s five most innovative orchestras by the League of American Orchestras.

With a purpose to lift the human spirit through the power of music, the Symphony is a cornerstone of the cultural landscape of Southern California, enriching lives and bringing communities together through creative and diverse programming. As the resident orchestra of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, the Symphony presents more than 100 concerts and events each year and a rich array of education and community engagement programs, reaching more than 300,000 residents of all ages.

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