“We’re only 39 years old, but next season looks like what we’d come up with for our 50th anniversary,” said Pacific Symphony president John Forsyte in the midst of describing the orchestra’s 2017-18 Classical Series. “This is the most star-studded galaxy of performers and works that we’ve had during my tenure.”
Forsyte’s enthusiasm is understandable. Even a casual fan of classical music would recognize many of the names in this season’s line-up: violinsts Joshua Bell and Pinchas Zuckerman, pianists Andre Watts and Garrick Ohlsson, conductor/composer Andre Previn, Hollywood composer James Newton Howard.
The most newsworthy event of the season will take place on the other coast: the orchestra makes its Carnegie Hall debut in April 2018, playing a major commissioned work by Philip Glass that received its premiere with the Pacific Symphony more than a decade ago.
Forsyte added that the 2017-18 season is also distinguished by some of the most challenging works in the orchestral repertoire. “These are projects that in some cases have been talked about and planned over five years by Carl,” Forsyte said. Carl St.Clair has served as the orchestra’s music director since 1990. “We have a strategic trajectory with some composers – we explore their work multi-seasonally,” Forsyte said.
Among the masterworks that distinguish this season are Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and selections from Wagner’s “Die Walküre.” Both will be performed at the season opener; Wagner’s work will feature notable baritone Greer Grimsley.
Also in the 2017-18 line-up are some monumental symphonies, including Bruckner’s No. 8, Rachmaninoff’s No. 2, Brahms’ No. 3 and Shostakovich’s No. 10. Among the piano concertos to be performed are Rachmaninoff’s No. 2, Prokofiev’s No. 2, and the beloved Gershwin Concerto in F. Violin concertos by Beethoven, Sibelius and Bruch are also scheduled.
The Pacific Symphony continues its tradition of presenting one semi-staged opera with “The Magic Flute,” which will feature the Pacific Chorale. Soloists have not been announced.
Pacific Symphony’s 2017-18 Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series
Sept. 14-16: Beethoven, Symphony No 5; Wagner, selections from “Die Walküre”
Sept. 23: An Evening with Joshua Bell: Dvorak, Symphony No. 9; Sibelius, Violin Concerto
Oct. 19-21: Previn, Almost an Overture (West Coast premiere); Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 9; Rachmaninoff, Symphony No. 2
Nov. 9-11: Bruckner, Symphony No. 8 (with the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael’s Abbey)
Nov. 30-Dec. 2: Smetena, The Moldau; Gershwin, Piano Concerto in F; Dvorak, Symphony No. 7
Dec. 3: Handel, The Messiah (with Pacific Chorale)
Jan. 11-13: Beethoven, Violin Concerto; Elgar, Symphony No. 1
Feb. 1-3: Chihara, Wild Wood; Brahms, Symphony No. 3; Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 2
Feb. 10: Chinese New Year concert
Feb. 22-27: Mozart, “The Magic Flute” (with Pacific Chorale)
March 15-17: Li, Spring Festival Overture; Bruch, Violin Concerto No. 1; Mussorgsky/Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition
April 12-14 (at Carnegie Hall): Glass, Meetings along the Edge from “Passages”; Shankar, Sitar Concerto No. 3; Glass, The Passion of Ramakrishna
May 3-5: Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”; Shostakovich, Symphony No. 10
May 31-June 2: Prokofiev, Russian Overture, Op. 72; Rachmaninoff, Piano concerto No. 2; Stravinsky, Petrushka (1947 version)
June 14-16: Howard, Two Concert Pieces; Lauridsen, O Magnum Mysterium; Bernstein, Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story”
“The Maestro’s Series,” featuring 12 classical concerts, is $300-$1,160 ($1,960 for Box Circle). Four-concert Sunday Casual Connections subscriptions are $88-$299 ($339 for Box Circle). Special events are priced separately. For more information or to purchase tickets call 714-755-5799 or visit PacificSymphony.org.
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