Pacific Symphony June Concerts at Renee and Henry Segerstrom Stage –
Plus - Five Sizzling Summer Season Concerts at Amphitheater

By Lydia E. Ringwald

Pacific Symphony celebrates the final concerts of its 2009-2010 Season with several spectacular shows this June.

June 3-5, violinist Leila Josefowicz performs in Ravel’s lyrical ‘Mother Goose’ followed by her performance of contemporary composer John Adams’ intricately woven Violin Concerto.  Her elegant violin presentation in Mozart’s Symphony No. 32, precedes the evening’s finale, Stravinsky’s Suite from ‘Firebird.’

The June concert schedule also includes Andre Watts, one of the world’s great piano megatalents, joining his friend James St. Clair and Pacific Symphony to celebrate music Director James St. Clair’s 20th anniversary with a Season finale of Rachmaninoff’s spectacular Piano Concerto No.2.  To honor the occasion, the performance on the June 10-12 program also includes Dvorak’s Carnival Overture and Prokofiev’s Symphony No.5.

On June 13, Andre Watts and Pacific Symphony pair again to present one of the music history’s great concertos, the famous Grieg Concerto.

Andre Watts, who has dazzled the music world for over 50 years since he gained immediate public acclaim at the age of 16 when selected by Leonard Bernstein to perform with the New York Philharmonic, dazzles us yet again in this spectacular landmark performance.

This summer Pacific Symphony presents a series of 5 sizzling outdoor concerts at the Verizon Amphitheater beginning with the traditional July 4 concert and fireworks of magical musical Americana.

Next, on Saturday July 17, ‘Cirque de la Symphonie,’ performs classical masterpieces and memorable contemporary music fused with a stage presentation of aerial flyers, dancers and jugglers performing cirque acts.

Pacific Symphony’s traditional presentation, the ‘Tchaikovsky’s Spectacular,’ is scheduled for Saturday, August 7 this year as the third performance of the summer. Conducted by St. Clair, the concert also features pianist Benjamin Pasternak, performing one of the demanding and powerful Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. Fireworks ignite the night sky with Tchaikovsky’s ‘1812’ Overture in a grand finale, always a great summer highlight.

On Saturday, August 28, Pacific Symphony introduces contemporary works that include Bernstein’s ‘Ode to Candide,’ John Williams’  ‘The Cowboys, Overture’ and Copland’s Suite to ‘Billy the Kid’ along with a medley of bluegrass-style ‘ sound in a ‘Kicked-up Classics’ evening musical event.

The Summer Season closes on Saturday, September 11 with a performance of Beethoven’s glorious ‘Ninth’ directed by Pacific Symphony guest conductor Robert Moody with full chorus singing the hopeful uplifting message from Schiller’s immortal poem ‘Ode to Joy.’

The summer series offers formal seating for those who enjoy an elegant evening outing or a casual setting for those who enjoy a picnic with blankets on the lawn under the stars. Fresh air, dining and a champagne toast to the lilting and haunting classics make Pacific Symphony outdoor concerts perfect to share with for families and friends. 

For parents – This is a perfect opportunity to introduce your young ones to classical music.
Culture is inculcated and now while children are young, parents may direct them towards appreciation of classical beauty in the musical arts.

Some may be hearing Beethoven, Rachmaninoff or Tchaikovsky for the first time while other seasoned concert goers continue to enjoy the luxury of live concerts each Season.
 
For either occasion, the Pacific Symphony summer series offers music lovers the luxury of outdoor concerts ‘en l’herbe’ for such a modest amount.

Please visit the Pacific Symphony website for more information: www.pacificsymphony.org