Concert Calendar

The smooth sounds of saxophone superstar Kenny G meld with the full orchestra when Pacific Symphony delivers a romantic Valentine’s evening of music. By grafting elements of R&B, pop and Latin to his jazz foundation, Kenny G is one of the most iconic and best-selling instrumentalists of all time. The orchestra opens the program with musical variations on the theme of love, including Richard Rodgers “My Funny Valentine.”

Puccini’s Madame Butterfly tells the story of a young naïve Japanese geisha who believes that her love for a handsome American naval officer is eternal. With its lush score and heartbreaking arias, it is a timeless tale that will stir your emotions. 

Bach’s serene Goldberg Variations has been described as both a beautiful keyboard work and a “Rubik’s Cube of invention and architecture.” There are over 300 recordings of the work, many in unusual arrangements. Conductor David Robertson’s striking arrangement for string quartet and piano receives its world premiere at this performance! Enjoy coffee, tea and pastries in the intimate coffee-house atmosphere of the Samueli Theater.

Free Family event! Bring the entire family and join us for Pacific Symphony’s annual Lantern Festival, celebrating the Year of the Pig! The Lantern Festival, which can be traced back 2,000 years, takes place 15 days after the Lunar New Year—on the first full moon night in the lunar calendar—and marks the return of spring, representing the reunion of family. The act of lighting and appreciating lanterns is a way for people to let go of the burdens of their old selves and express their best wishes for themselves and their families for the future.

Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble continues its 2018-19 season with an exploration of a driving dichotomy of the human experience, that of war and peace. The program will combine profoundly beautiful and probing works with stirring projected imagery, culminating in a performance of Aaron Copland’s masterful Lincoln Portrait, narrated by Rich Capparela.

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Seating is general admission.

Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra dedicates its mid-season concert to two towering masterpieces: Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring (originally titled Ballet for Martha in honor of the great American Dancer/Choreographer Martha Graham) and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s magnificent and much loved Symphony No. 2.

Best known for his Tony and Grammy Award-winning performance as Aaron Burr in the original cast of Broadway’s “Hamilton” and his part in the musical TV series, “Smash,” Leslie Odom, Jr. joins the Symphony with a specially curated selection of Broadway and jazz hits including Jerome Kern’s “Look for the Silver Lining” and Nat King Cole’s “I Know That You Know.”

Organist and internationally renowned silent-film accompanist Dennis James provides a chilling soundtrack to the classic 1925 silent film "The Phantom of the Opera," starring Lon Chaney, Sr. as the dreaded Phantom who terrorizes the Paris Opera House in an attempt to make the woman he is infatuated with a celebrity. See this extraordinary film on the big screen while experiencing the overwhelming sounds from the 4,322-pipe organ.

Inspired by his travels to Venice, Rome, Bologna and Florence, Mendelssohn’s symphony evokes imagery of Mediterranean sunshine, famous architecture and the rustic landscapes that make Italy so iconic. And be inspired by an arrangement of the slow movement from Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 16 and Bruch’s profoundly virtuosic Violin Concerto.

Inspired by his travels to Venice, Rome, Bologna and Florence, Mendelssohn’s symphony evokes imagery of Mediterranean sunshine, famous architecture and the rustic landscapes that make Italy so iconic. And be inspired by Bruch’s profoundly virtuosic Violin Concerto.

Celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, with Pacific Symphony! A traditional festival that marks the beginning of spring, Nowruz is a time to celebrate the “rebirth of nature” and wash away the past. Homayoun Shajarian and brothers Sohrab and Tahmoures Pournazeri join the symphony for a concert that unites cultures through the power of music.

Sundays at Soka: A continuation of his exploration of the works of Schubert and Chopin in February, Maestro Carl St.Clair leads Pacific Symphony through another exciting afternoon of music, starting with Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony. Then, audience favorite Conrad Tao joins the orchestra in Chopin's First Piano Concerto. 

Famous as part of the soundtrack to 2001: A Space Odyssey, Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra elicits wonder about our vast universe. Former Composer-in- Residence Michael Daugherty offers a suitable prelude — a new work celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Mozart’s cheerful Piano Concerto No. 23, with Finnish pianist Juho Pohjonen, is the sublime centerpiece.

3…2…1…liftoff! Launch into the wonders of outer space as you tour the moon, the planets and beyond with music from Star Wars, Star Trek and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Featuring  NASA space footage, Pacific Symphony is joined by special guests, the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, on this exciting intergalactic adventure!

Defiant Requiem tells the story of the courageous Jewish prisoners in the Terezín Concentration Camp during World War II who performed Verdi’s stunning Requiem Mass, despite experiencing the depths of human degradation. Combining magnificent music with video testimony from survivors, this powerful and dramatic work will move you.

Epic rock riffs and majestic symphonic strings will come together in perfect harmony as Pacific Symphony pays tribute to one of the greatest bands of all time. Joined by high energy band and vocalists Windborne, the Symphony performs hits such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” “Killer Queen,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Another One Bites the Dust” and many more!

Be swept away by the romantic charm of the guitar as Pacific Symphony embarks on a special celebration of this popular instrument. A festival curated by the “master of guitar” Pablo Villegas takes you on a journey to Spain with Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, inspired by the real-life royal Spanish palace.

Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings wraps up their 2018-19 season with a program of rousing and engaging pieces, both old and new! From the intense sonorities of Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto to the brilliance of Brian Balmages Urban Concerto, this musical adventure is sure to provide new and exciting vistas for all to enjoy!

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Seating is general admission.

One of today’s most sought-after concert organists, Juilliard-trained Hector Olivera is a passionate musician, whose interpretations of both classical and popular music have amazed and delighted audiences around the world. The Times Reporter describes an evening with Hector Olivera as “an event, a happening, a joyful celebration of the sheer power and pressure that a true virtuoso like Olivera can unleash in a concert hall.” Experience the might of this organ master as he performs a wide-ranging program of the most virtuosic repertoire.

Considered one of Maurice Ravel’s masterpieces, The Child and the Magic Spells (L’enfant et les sortilèges) takes the perspective of a young boy who encounters magical forces. Opening the program is Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, a symphonic fairy tale for children that illustrates the characterful sounds of the orchestra and features unique visual performers, the Magic Circle Mime Company.

Wrapping up their 2018-19 season, Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble will present a program of depth and excitement, exploring the enduring musical influence of one of western music’s most towering figures and featuring performances by guest conductor Dr. Jamal Duncan and organist Kristen Lawrence.

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Seating is general admission.

Enjoy this unique theatrical program featuring Alan Ridout’s “Ferdinand the Bull,” a musical narration of Munro Leaf’s enchanting picture book and Igor Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale,” a parable about a solider who deals with the devil. A lyrical work by Brahms and a poetic Pohádka by Janácek complete this delightful program. Enjoy coffee, tea and pastries in the intimate coffee-house atmosphere of the Samueli Theater.

Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles wraps up their 2018-19 season with one of the 20th century’s most revolutionary and influential works, Igor Stravinsky’s epic ballet, The Rite of Spring. The concert will also feature a performance by the 1st place winner of PSYO’s annual concerto competition, a much anticipated and truly thrilling event!

By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, The Music Man is a story to be shared with every generation! In association with Chaplin Entertainment, UIA Presents you with the charm and whimsicality of this timeless story performed live with a one-of-a-kind, nostalgic score of rousing marches, barbershop quartets, celebrity talent and all the best heart-warming moments from the classic Broadway production. The Music Man in Concert premieres this season with Pacific Symphony and a cast of Broadway and television stars!

Principal Symphony musicans display their artistry in Mozart's charming Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds. Then, the 40th anniversary season concludes with Mahler's monumental Symphony No. 1.

Pacific Symphony concludes its 40th anniversary season with Mahler's epic Symphony No. 1. Mahler expanded conventional symphonic form in this dramatic work with which the orchestra inaugurated the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in 2006.

Carl kicks off his 30th with a program of explosive music! First, Beethoven’s dramatic Egmont Overture followed by the precursor to his Ninth Symphony, the “Choral” Fantasy featuring the accomplished Benjamin Pasternack. Then, fly through the flames of fortune with Orff’s breathtaking masterpiece, Carmina Burana.

Carl kicks off his 30th with a program of symphonic and choral fire: Carl Orff’s breathtaking and widely popular masterpiece, Carmina Burana.

Drama unfolds with Tchaikovsky’s deeply passionate Symphony No. 6 and Ravel’s virtuosic gypsy rhapsody, Tzigane, featuring concertmaster Dennis Kim. Earlier in the evening, you’ll embark on an exploration of the brilliant compositions from legendary film composer John Williams, who is responsible for linking Carl to Pacific Symphony.

Journey through the minds of three prolific American composers: George Chadwick, the master from the New England Conservatory; his pupil Florence Price, the first African-American woman recognized as a symphonic composer; and George Gershwin, a composer whose music is synonymous with the sound of America.

More than two centuries after its wildly successful premiere, Beethoven’s Seventh remains a work you simply must experience live. Also featured is another premiere: a tribute to Maestro St.Clair from Academy Award-winning composer, Elliot Goldenthal. And Vadym Kholodenko, winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn competition, joins with an electrifying performance of Prokofiev’s demanding Piano Concerto No. 3.

A beloved holiday tradition, Handel’s celebrated oratorio — with its blazing trumpets, thundering timpani and spectacular “Hallelujah!” chorus — provides a moment during the busy season to experience reflection, renewal and joy.

This is Beethoven at his best – lyrical, spirited and epic. Dvořák, while greatly inspired by the great German, expresses his own Bohemian lyricism in his Symphony No. 8, filled with indelible melodies and themes that flow like no other symphony.

Join us for Pacific Symphony’s annual festivities honoring the Lunar New Year! Celebrating the Year of the Rat, this performance is sure to sell out once again as audiences from across our communities come together to feast on a colorful presentation of Eastern and Western music and dance.

Obsession, unrequited love and…opium; when mixed properly, these ingredients leave you with Berlioz’s vivid and dream-like Symphonie Fantastique. Also featured is Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, a series of portraits dedicated to friends lost in World War I along with his jazzy Piano Concerto in G Major with the spectacular Lefèvre.

Obsession, unrequited love and…opium; when mixed properly, these ingredients leave you with Berlioz’s vivid and dream-like Symphonie Fantastique. Also featured is the spectacular Alain Lefèvre with Ravel’s jazzy Piano Concerto in G Major.

Where piano fans look to Rachmaninoff for keyboard virtuosity, violinists turn to Paganini. An outrageously gifted musician, he was also an accomplished composer writing hundreds of pieces including six violin concertos. Sparks will fly as violinist Augustin Hadelich takes the stage. Following is Rachmaninoff’s expressive and quintessentially Russian Symphony No. 3.

An all-Beethoven weekend – in celebration of the iconic composer’s 250th birthday – featuring all five piano concertos with the lavishly talented Alexander Romanovsky.

An all-Beethoven program – in celebration of the iconic composer’s 250th birthday – featuring his 4th and 5th piano concertos with the lavishly talented Alexander Romanovsky.

Celebrate Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, with Pacific Symphony! A traditional festival that marks the beginning of spring, Nowruz is a time to celebrate the “rebirth of nature” and wash away the past. Join us for a concert that unites cultures through the power of music.

Love, betrayal and jealousy – all trademarks of great tragic opera – Otello embraces these themes to the fullest. Written decades after going into retirement, Verdi’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s tale takes you on a journey through a passionate romance destroyed by one of opera’s most loathsome villains.

Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 is a work that leads you from gorgeous melodies to unforgettable themes, all without pause. Earlier in the evening, piano phenom Joyce Yang dazzles with Rachmaninoff’s tour-de-force of the keyboard, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

Pianist Conrad Tao returns with Mozart’s impassioned Piano Concerto No. 20. Following is Brahms’ Fourth and final symphony. Filled with deep emotion, profound complexity and beautiful melancholy, it finishes with a finale that will leave you speechless. The concert opens with a new work by Frank Ticheli in honor of Carl's 30th anniversary.

Filled with deep emotion, profound complexity and beautiful melancholy, Brahms’ 4th symphony finishes with a finale that will leave you speechless—the perfect ending to Carl’s 30th anniversary season.

A tidal wave of sound, Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand” is an immersive work that pushes the sonic boundaries of the orchestra and choir. Written as an expression of confidence in the eternal human spirit, Mahler’s Eighth is an exhilarating experience you cannot miss.