A classical music website dedicated to Pacific Symphony
The Power of Puccini’s “Once Upon a Time” In the late 19th century, the verismo movement dominated the opera world. With its intense emotions, contemporary relatable characters, and realistic locations, verismo marked a major shift away from the more far-fetched
The women of Pacific Symphony have been absolutely vital in orchestrating the symphony’s community impact (pun intended). Hundreds of women, from staff members and board members to donors and volunteers, have come together to bring live orchestral music to Orange
Was there a greater transformation in music than the one that took place over the 63 years of Brahms’ lifetime? He was born just after Beethoven’s death into a world dominated by Liszt, Chopin and Schumann; Early Romantics mapping the
Michael Daugherty, GRAMMY® Award winner and longtime composer-in-residence of Pacific Symphony, composed a vivid story that captures the thrill of flight and the daring bravery of the first woman to ever fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Blue Electra was commissioned
Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) hosts a concerto competition each season, offering students a chance to win a solo performance opportunity in their Spring concerts. This competition serves as a powerful opening for students to experience performing as a soloist
If only Gustav Mahler could have told a tale as well as Richard Strauss. Strauss, undisputed master of programmatic music, famously believed that he could depict a knife and fork in music if so motivated. He sought the ability to
Ludwig van Beethoven wrote only one full violin concerto – Op. 61 in D major. Many of his concertos were written for Beethoven himself to play on the piano with an orchestra, but his violin concerto was designed to highlight
“In short, he became so absorbed in his books that he spent his nights from sunset to sunrise, and his days from dawn to dark, poring over them; and what with little sleep and much reading his brains got so
Erich Wolfgang Korngold was born in Brünn, Austria-Hungary (now Brno, Czech Republic). A child prodigy, he was composing music by age seven and earned early praise from legendary composers Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss. Jewish musicians were a particular target
Enter the world of fairy tales and you’ll find yourself surrounded by rules. Don’t lie or no one will believe you when you tell the truth. Don’t tell someone you can spin straw into gold when you can’t. And if