A classical music website dedicated to Pacific Symphony
On May 28-30, 2026, Pacific Symphony’s Artistic & Music Director Designate Alexander Shelley will conduct a celebratory concert in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The program includes the West Coast Premiere of American Mosaic, a collaboration
Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) hosts a Concerto Competition each season, offering PSYO members a chance to win a solo performance opportunity during their Spring concerts. This competition serves as a powerful avenue for gifted young musicians to develop and
The premiere of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” at New York’s Aeolian Hall on February 12, 1924, was a musical earthquake that captivated the audience from the moment of its thrilling opening, a swooping clarinet line that signalled a new
The Abduction from the Seraglio (Die Entführung aus dem Serail) is a singspiel – a form of German-language music drama (some interpret it now as a genre of opera with spoken word). Mozart wrote this singspiel based on Christoph Friedrich
Fazil Say is a Turkish classical composer and concert pianist. He grew up as a prodigy: he was able to do basic math with 4 digit numbers and play recognizable tunes on a makeshift flute at the age of two
When we listen to the inventive, magically melodic and infectious music of Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky, it’s hard to imagine that the composer was plagued with doubt about his talents throughout his all-too-short life, often swinging wildly between pride in his
“Turandot,” Giacomo Puccini’s last opera, captures many of the gritty, realistic qualities associated with verismo, which brought more relatable characters and emotions to the operatic world beginning in the late 19th century. But its roots are ancient, and they have
Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings has been named Grand Champion in their division at the 2026 National Orchestra Festival hosted by the American String Teachers Association at their annual conference in San Francisco, CA. Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings (PSSS) is composed
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