A classical music website dedicated to Pacific Symphony
Gustav Mahler had only just finished his First Symphony in 1888 when he began his next massive undertaking. He started his Second Symphony, which would later become his “Resurrection Symphony,” with the first movement, Todtenfeier, or Funeral Ceremony. After some
On September 24th, 2026, in his inaugural concert as Pacific Symphony’s Artistic & Music Director, Alexander Shelley welcomes GRAMMY® Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell – an extraordinary artist whose artistry, influence, and unmistakable sound have made him one of the most
In the last Classical concert program for Pacific Symphony’s 2025-26 Season, you will hear the following selections: ROSSINI: Overture to William Tell BOCCHERINI: Cello Concerto in Bb Major (Grützmacher) MASCAGNI: Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 2 Gioachino Rossini
The creation of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 is a fascinating and convoluted story of psychological recovery, creative secrecy, political upheaval, and ultimate vindication by an artist still haunted by an early-career failure. “To hell with them! I do not
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