A classical music website dedicated to Pacific Symphony
Why can’t we stop tinkering with Swan Lake? The traditional version of the ballet, set to Tchaikovsky’s tender, ravishing, dark and brooding score, tells the story of Odette, a beautiful princess cursed by an evil sorcerer to transform into a
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,
Maurice Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloé” is a shimmering, monumental masterpiece, but its creation was anything but serene. Behind the lush harmonies and explosive climaxes lies a chaotic tale of clashing egos, artistic warfare, and a composer’s quiet revenge. Commissioned in
“Carmen,” George Bizet’s risqué tale of love, lust and murder, has a backstory worthy of its subject. One of the most beloved and popular operas in the world was born amid scandal, controversy, and a stubborn artistic vision that defied
With such a plain spoken title, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade (1888) has to be programmatic music, right? A retelling of stories from the Thousand and One Nights? Well, yes…and no. Richard Strauss, master of programmatic music, famously said “I could set
SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39 Sibelius, like Brahms, waited to finish his first symphony. His career was well underway when he tackled the challenge in his early 30s. And, like Brahms, he paid attention to the
Rachmaninoff wrote his Piano Concerto No. 2 after he recovered from a severe case of writer’s block. He dedicated the work to the doctor who had helped him to overcome his fears and depression.
When Carl St.Clair and Pacific Symphony navigate their way through the dramatic terrain of Verdi’s Requiem June 5-8, they’ll be doing so with their long-time vocal partners, Pacific Chorale. Dr. Rob Istad, currently enjoying his eighth season at the Chorale’s helm, recently took some time to discuss his approach to the work: what it means to him, and how he prepares his singers….
Requiem Masses have long served as a way for nations to mourn their public figures…. The best known of course is Verdi’s Requiem Mass, but which public figure was it meant to honor? Therein lies a tale…
Is it wrong to wish Anton Bruckner had been a little more stubborn? Certainly it would have simplified the work of identifying the definitive performance scores for his symphonies if he’d just said, “Close enough” and moved on….