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The Pacific Symphony is bringing live music back to Orange County, California!
Under the baton of conductor Carl St. Clair, the Pacific Symphony in Orange County, California, is bringing live music back! They were well received by an enthusiastic audience of music lovers at their annual Tchaikovsky Spectacular on September 11, 2021, at the Pacific Amphitheatre at the OC Fair and Event Center.
Paying Respect to the Victims of 9/11
In respect for the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, the Pacific Symphony (joined by the Pacific Chorale) started their program with Stafford Smith‘s The Star-Spangled Banner, John Williams‘ Liberty Fanfare, Stephen Paulus‘ The Road Home, and Irving Berlin‘s God Bless America. For some reason the previously announced rendition of Amazing Grace to feature Dave Champagne on bagpipes did not happen despite audience members seeing him in the wings waiting to go on.
There was also a lovely presenting of the colors by Lee’s Legion Color Guard of the Orange County Chapter of the California Society of the Sons of the American Revolution at the beginning of the evening who were dressed in historic costumes befitting the Revolutionary War.
Chief Brian Fennessy from the Orange County Fire Authority was also present at this year’s Tchaikovsky Spectacular to give some words of remembrance and honor the men and women serving our country in the armed forces, police, fire, and medicine.
It was a truly touching tribute and a great way to start the show.
George Li on Piano with the Pacific Symphony
The special guest for the Pacific Symphony’s Tchaikovsky Spectacular was a talented George Li who won the silver medal in the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (2015). His hands sailing across those keys was a wonder to observe. Imagine ballet but on fingers and you’ll picture the grace and finesse and talent of George Li when he performed Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Pacific Symphony with such speed and zeal that left the audience wanting more.
You can find his two solo recordings online at Amazon and Apple Music.
You can find a listing of future North American concerts on George Li’s website.
Why You Should Buy Tickets for a Pacific Symphony Concert
With the Pacific Symphony’s 2021-2022 season starting on September 30th at the beautiful Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California, here are just four reasons why you should consider buying tickets for a concert –
- Did you know that the Symphony is the largest orchestra formed in the United States in the last fifty years and is recognized as an outstanding ensemble making strides on both the national and international stage?
- The Symphony offers repertoire ranging from the great orchestral masterworks to music from today’s most prominent composers. This season they will have classic concerts such as Tchaikovsky’s Fifth, feature an evening with the incredible British crossover pop star Katherine Jenkins, present Rossini’s Cinderella adapted for children, feature World class organist Todd Wilson at their Holiday Organ Spectacular, and will delight us all with a crowd favorite Handel’s Messiah at Christmastime to name but a few! [Full list of concerts]
- The Symphony offers special priced student tickets for as low as $10!
- The Symphony proudly offers season packages that are economical and start at $99 for FOUR concerts!
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts
The Pacific Symphony is the resident orchestra of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall which I had the pleasure of touring this week. What a gorgeous center right here in the center of Orange County allowing residents to enjoy top of the line artists and performances without having to travel to Los Angeles or San Diego.
Here are just 5 useful facts about the Concert Hall –
- The concert hall is accessible with ramps and elevators for the convenience of their patrons.
- The Segerstrom Center for the Arts encourages Southern California individuals and groups to book a free walking tour of the campus where you’ll be amazed at all the details both behind the scenes and front of the house. Ever wonder about how they’re able to adjust the acoustics in the concert hall? Perhaps you’ve always wanted to see what it is like backstage at the Segerstrom Hall? You can request a private tour (not guaranteed) or attend a public Saturday tour at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts by visiting their website or emailing tours@scfta.org.
- The Segerstrom Center for the Arts is home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School (sister school to the prestigious American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York City) AND the all inclusive Studio D: Art School for All Abilities.
- The Julianne and George Argyros Plaza is a modern public gathering place between the buildings at the Segerstrom Center with free wifi, outdoor seating with shade, and two stages. They host movie screenings, dance lessons, and is the official West Coast home for National Dance Day (September 18, 2021).
- The Segerstrom Center for the Arts is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for Southern California patrons to come. Their updated COVID-19 policy requires ticket holders to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to attend all indoor performances and events at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. For more information about their safety policy please visit their official website.
Upcoming Pacific Symphony Concerts at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Emmanuel Ax Plays Mozart [Official Opening of the 2021-2022 Season]
Dates: September 30, October 1-2 2021 8 p.m.
Description: Celebrate a return to the concert hall during opening weekend with the unparalleled Emanuel Ax performing Mozart’s charming Piano Concerto No. 17. Maestro St.Clair concludes the evening with Tchaikovsky’s moving Fifth Symphony.
Tchaikovsky’s Fifth
Dates: October 3, 2021 3 p.m.
Description: Pacific Symphony and Maestro Carl St.Clair make their return to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall with Tchaikovsky’s achingly beautiful fifth symphony. A reflection of the troubled composer’s self-doubt, the work serves as a landmark in the Romantic era filled with moments of melancholy but ends with a triumphant finale.
Beethoven’s “Eroica”
Dates: October 14-16, 2021 8 p.m.
Description: Experience Beethoven’s thrilling “Eroica” symphony—a work so innovative and influential it changed the course of music history. And revel in the beauty and technical mastery of Tchaikovsky’s unofficial cello concerto, Variations on a Rococo Theme featuring cellist Gabriel Martins, winner of the 2020 Concert Artists Guild – Young Classical Artists Trust Grand Prize and the 2020 Sphinx Competition.
An Intimate Evening with David Foster
Dates: November 5-6, 2021 8 p.m.
Description: Back by popular demand, 16-time Grammy Award winner David Foster returns to Pacific Symphony to perform songs from his unparalleled catalog. Popular hits — written for artists including Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Olivia Newton-John, Barbra Streisand and many others — include “You’re the Inspiration,” “The Prayer,” “The Glory of Love” and “St. Elmo’s Fire.”
Handel’s Glorious Messiah
Dates: December 5, 2021 3 p.m.
Description: 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.
For a full list of concerts visit the official Pacific Symphony website.
To learn about the Pacific Symphony’s live-streaming options, visit my post here.
Excited? I know I am and I hope you are too! Enjoy!
More Things to Do in Orange County
- Staying Healthy at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in 2021
- Dana Point Whale Watching
- Crowne Plaza Costa Mesa
- ARC Restaurants Food and Libations – Costa Mesa
- Disney on Ice (2021)
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