Pacific Symphony

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Check out this review of Cameron Carpenter's recent performance! 

"Skillfully integrating difficult technique and revealing fathoms of intricacy, Carpenter revealed the true mastery of his instrument the pipe organ."

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Actually classy.

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SFB’s official photographer went behind the scenes in our studio for Snap Magazine!

See the full gallery here.

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Gold medalist Charlie White Plays the Violin!

This is awesome! After winning the first USA gold in ice skating, Charlie White returned to the Today show to share his "other talent" - the violin! #winterolympics #athletescanbemusicianstoo

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Wardrobe seamstresses Pat and Mary are working hard putting the final touches on the costumes for #latraviata. Opening night is tomorrow!

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Triviata #3: A Musical Hero from Humble Beginnings

As a student at the Milan Conservatory, Verdi was told that he had no special musical talent.  He sure showed them!  Verdi was one of the most successful Italian composers of all time, and went on to write 30 different operas!  Some of the most famous include: Rigoletto, Otello, Macbeth, Don Carlos, Falstaff, and of course, La Traviata. 

This “talentless” young man also became something of a national hero during the unification of Italy.  In fact, the phrase “Viva Verdi” was seen written on walls throughout Milan in the late 1850s and early 1860s, not only wishing a long and prosperous life to the beloved composer, but also serving as a secret vow that the King of Piedmont would be successful in his bid to unify Italy: Viva Vittorio Emanuele Re D’Italia (long live Vittorio Emanuele King of Italy).

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Triviata #2: The Mystery of Three Sopranos in One

La Traviata’s heroine, Violetta, goes on a significant emotional journey throughout the opera.  And Verdi’s score is right there with her!  In fact some opera lovers joke that you really need three DIFFERENT sopranos to do Violetta’s music justice: a coloratura soprano, a lyric soprano, and a dramatic soprano.

In the first act Violetta’s music sparkles like a glass of champagne: high, brilliant, fast moving and virtuosic.  Despite her illness, Violetta focusses on her freedom and the pleasures of life in Paris’ demi-monde.  At the start of Act II, however, her music takes on a warmer and more lyrical aspect. Violetta is living with her true love, Alfredo, and her music mirrors her joy, peace and contentment.  As the opera progresses Violetta’s music becomes more dramatic, reflecting her agony at leaving Alfredo and her despair at how he treats her at Flora’s party.  As she and Alfredo are reunited at the end of the opera, Violetta music returns to the lyrical beauty of Act II, before she faces the ultimate tragedy—succumbing to her illness and passing away.

So how does our Violetta, Elizabeth Caballero, take on this “triple duty” with grace, style, beauty and ease? Join us Feb. 20, 22 or 25 to find out! 

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Triviata #1: Violetta on Hollywood Boulevard

Our resident opera expert has come up with a series of "Triviatas" to help you prepare for seeing Verdi's "La Traviata" with Pacific Symphony Feb. 20, 22 or 25 at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. 

What do Julia Roberts and Giuseppe Verdi have in common?  The 1990 hit movie, Pretty Woman, shares a number of dramatic themes with Verdi’s masterpiece and features a number of musical excerpts from the opera.  Did you know…?

1) Both works star a “fallen woman” who finds redemption through love

2) In the movie, Roberts’ Vivian is taken to a performance of La Traviata by Richard Gere’s Edward.  She is moved to tears by the performance and the scene serves a turning point in her relationship with Edward

3) Vivian hears ‘Dammi tu forza, o cielo!’ from Act II when she is at the opera, and the excerpt reoccurs a number of times during the second half of the movie, underscoring key dramatic moments

4) The original script of Pretty Women was not quite the romantic comedy that we all know.  It concluded with Edward throwing Vivian out of his car and throwing three thousand dollars in cash at her, mirroring the scene in Act III where Alfredo throws money at the devastated Violetta in front of the guests at Flora’s party

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Shiver me timbres Buccaneers! Aye, too much Sturm und Drang fer one day. Time to be weighing anchor and be off. Fair winds scurvy dogs! Till next International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

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Belay Scallywags! Ye be brave or fool enough to be joinin' the fun fer International Talk Like A Pirate Day? Fer ye lily-livered sprogs who don't be speaking Piratically correct, ye may want to be consultin' thar links below: http://www.yarr.org.uk/talk http://www.talklikeapirate.com/howto.html http://www.wikihow.com/Talk-Like-a-Pirate http://www.mangolanguages.com/learn-pirate http://www.the-pirate-ship.com/piratedictionary.html Then, go on the account and smartly comment to show yer fellow bilge rats yer Pirate talkin' - Savvy?

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Ahoy Landlubbers! It be that time o' year again! Celebrate International Talk Like A Pirate Day by commenting Piratically and rebloggin'!!

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What Would Beethoven Do?

What Would Beethoven Do? is a documentary film that explores the state of classical music in the 21st century. With major symphony orchestras across the United States struggling financially and seemingly diminished interest in classical music culturally, the genre and its adherents are starting to realize that they must innovate or be left to the history books. This documentary follows several programs and music innovators who are bringing classical music from the stuffy concert hall to the popular masses and are demonstrating the power of this art form to change lives.

Pacific Symphony's Director of Community Arts Participation Molly Pontin and Director of Audience Engagement Kurt Mortensen were both interviewed and featured in the teaser video for the kickstarter campaign that launched today to support the funding the project.

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NPR thinks it's Beethoven.

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A Guide to THE RITE OF SPRING Infographic by Kurt Mortensen, inspired by Nicholas Roerich’s costume and set design for the original 1913 production.

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The King of Flop!

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The Frite of Spring - It's a Thriller!!!

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Here is one of MANY good questions people have asked Pacific Symphony! Ask YOURS at www.pacificsymphony.org/asktheorchestra