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A powerful journey from grief to hope to triumph featuring Pacific Chorale, soprano Miah Persson and mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly

A work of overwhelming power, profound beauty, and breathtaking scale, Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection,” opens Pacific Symphony’s classical subscription series on October 1-3, 2026. Under the direction of Artistic & Music Director Alexander Shelley, the performance begins his inaugural season with one of the most celebrated masterpieces in the orchestral repertoire, distinctly incorporated into the intentional, thematic programming of the 2026-27 Classical Season.

Shelley leads Pacific Symphony alongside Pacific Chorale, internationally acclaimed soprano Miah Persson, and award-winning mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly in a performance that showcases the extraordinary expressive range of Mahler’s visionary score. From its opening funeral march to its radiant choral finale, “Resurrection” follows an unforgettable journey through each of the human emotions of grief, doubt, reflection, and ultimately, hope. Combining elements of orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists, the work culminates in one of classical music’s most recognized finales, one of healing and renewal. 

“In our first set of Classical concerts, we present to you one of the most extraordinary works of art in human history. Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 contains towering power, hushed mystery, soaring voices and a finale that seems to span the human existence,” said Shelley. “This is a work that speaks to the rebirth of self through an ideal. It’s a meaningful reflection of the values that guided the Declaration of Independence and an inspiration for us living today.” 

Mahler completed his “Resurrection” Symphony in 1894 after many years of consideration, precision, and care. The work is his first symphony to unite orchestra and chorus and was inspired by a poem on resurrection by Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock. It explores the universe, questions morality, sparks understanding, and highlights the resilience of the human experience. Even now, more than a century after its premiere, Mahler’s influence in building European tradition within the United States remains.

“This performance heralds the celebration of America 250, the 20th anniversary of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, and the 40th anniversary of Segerstrom Center for the Arts with optimism,” continued Shelley. “We’ll collaborate with the Pacific Chorale and two terrific vocal soloists, soprano Miah Persson and mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly. This concert offers us a moment to come together in this incredible concert hall so that we can consider some of the most essential ideas of humanity.”

The concert titled “Shelley Conducts Mahler 2: Resurrection” takes place October 1-3 at 8 p.m. in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Enhancing the experience, audiences can attend a free Preview Talk at 7 p.m. and enjoy a post-concert meet-and-greet with Alexander Shelley on Thursday and Friday evenings. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit pacificsymphony.org.

About Miah Persson, Soprano

Since her operatic debut as Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro in 1998, Swedish soprano Miah Persson has distinguished herself as one of the world’s principal Mozart interpreters, celebrated for roles including Zerlina and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan Tutte, and Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro. She has “cemented her place as one of the most intelligent Strauss sopranos of our time” (Bachtrack), having made impactful role debuts as the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier and Countess in Capriccio. Read more. 

About Dame Sarah Connolly, Mezzo-Soprano

Sarah Connolly was made a DBE in the 2017 Birthday Honours, having previously been awarded a CBE in the 2010 New Year Honours. In 2020 she was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society in recognition of her outstanding services to music. In 2023 she was awarded The King’s Medal for Music, an award given annually to an outstanding individual or group of musicians who have had a major influence on the musical life of the nation.

Connolly has sung at the Aldeburgh, Edinburgh, Lucerne, Salzburg, and Tanglewood Festivals and the BBC Proms. Opera engagements have taken her around the world from the Metropolitan Opera to the Royal Opera House, the Paris Opera, La Scala Milan, the Vienna and Munich State Operas and the Bayreuth, Glyndebourne and Aix-en-Provence Festivals. Read more. 

About Pacific Chorale

The Grammy® Award-winning Pacific Chorale, an Orange County “treasure” with a “fresh viewpoint” that “can sing anything you put in front of it, with polish, poise and tonal splendor” (The Orange County Register) has “risen to national prominence” (Los Angeles Times) since its inception in 1968. Hailed for delivering “thrilling entertainment” (Voice of OC), the resident choir at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is noted for its artistic innovation and commitment to expanding the choral repertoire. It has given the world, U.S., and West Coast premieres of more than 35 works, including numerous commissions, by such lauded composers as John Adams, Jake Heggie, James Hopkins, David Lang, Morten Lauridsen, Tarik O’Regan, Karen Thomas, Frank Ticheli, András Gábor Virágh, and Eric Whitacre. Read more.

About Alexander Shelley

One of the foremost conductors of his generation, Alexander Shelley is “a natural communicator, both on and off the podium” (The Daily Telegraph), appearing regularly across six continents with the world’s finest orchestras and soloists. A passionate and articulate advocate for the role of music in society, Shelley has spearheaded multiple award-winning and ground-breaking projects, unlocking creativity in the next generation and bringing symphonic music to new audiences.

With a conducting technique described as “immaculate, everything crystal clear” (Yorkshire Post), and with a “precision, distinction, and beauty of gesture not seen since Lorin Maazel” (Le Devoir), Shelley is known for the integrity of his interpretations and for his creative programming. He has led over 50 major world premieres, highly praised cycles of Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms symphonies, operas, ballets, and innovative multimedia productions. He is admired in the industry for bringing the best possible sound out of orchestras. 

In 2026-27, he leads Pacific Symphony in Southern California into a thrilling new era as its Artistic & Music Director. Additionally, this season marks Shelley’s first full season as Principal Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland (NSOI). Since 2024, he has also served as the Artistic and Music Director of Artis–Naples, in Florida, where he provides artistic leadership for the Naples Philharmonic and the wider multidisciplinary arts organization. Across each ensemble, Shelley is committed to presenting music as a complete artistic experience. With Pacific Symphony and Artis–Naples, he leads performances of the entire Beethoven symphonic cycle, inviting audiences into a deeper engagement with the composer’s creative vision. Read more.

About Pacific Symphony

Founded in 1978, Pacific Symphony welcomes Alexander Shelley for his inaugural season as Artistic & Music Director in 2026-27, building on nearly five decades of artistic growth, innovation, and community impact. His inaugural season reflects an ambitious artistic vision that blends core symphonic masterworks, contemporary voices, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to expanding access to orchestral music. Today, Pacific Symphony is recognized as a major cultural force in Southern California and performs as a resident company of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. Learn more at pacificsympony.org. 

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