A classical music website dedicated to Pacific Symphony
“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
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
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
Improvisatory genius Gabriela Montero returns to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall to perform her own Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin Concerto.” Having made her concerto debut at just eight years old, Montero has captivated audiences worldwide with her technical brilliance,