What’s New in November!
The Halloween season is here, and November is just around the corner. That means colder weather, pumpkin pie and exciting concerts with Pacific Symphony! Performances are scheduled for the first and third weekends.
The first weekend we will host our opening Pops concert, “An Evening with Stephen Sondheim & Andrew Lloyd Webber.” For two nights, Nov. 1-2, Pacific Symphony features Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman on the podium as he leads guest vocalists Scarlett Strallen, Debbie Gravitte and Hugh Panaro. The ensemble will explore the careers of these illustrious figures from Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and Company to Webber’s Phantom of the Opera and Cats, to name only a few. These memorable Broadway classics performed by such accomplished musicians will make it an evening you won’t want to miss!
“Rhapsody in Blue” starts off the third weekend and runs for three nights, Nov. 14-16. These concerts intertwine the works of George Gershwin, George Chadwick and Florence Price as they redefine the American sound through the beginning of the 20th century. The way these composers infuse the spirit of innovation and unconventional composition makes their music simply mesmerizing. The concerts feature the celebrated conductor Mei-Ann Chen, as well as the distinguished pianist Aaron Diehl for this fun, jazzy night of American music.
Concluding the month is our three-day Youth Ensemble fall concert series (Nov. 16-18): Pacific Symphony’s Santiago Strings, Youth Wind Ensemble and Youth Orchestra, each of whom performs on their own day. These hand-selected students have been hard at work perfecting renowned pieces ranging from beloved classics to contemporary American music. Come out and show your support for one of our most popular Youth events of the year! This concert is free but space is limited.
We’ll see you at the Concert Hall!
Jacob Sanchez is an arts and culture writer based in Southern California. His work has been published in the “Inkslinger” and “River Voice” journals.