If the apocalypse has a soundtrack, it’s “O Fortuna” from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana…
Carmina Burana
O Magnum Mysterium
Sacred music takes as many forms as humanity has images of God. The majestic sovereign of Handel’s “Hallelujah” Chorus, the terrifying and wrathful god in the “Dies irae” of Verdi’s Requiem, the simple beauty of Bach’s “Sheep may safely graze”—all startlingly different from each other, and all capturing some facet of our perception of deity…
Joshua Bell & Larisa Martínez: Voice & the Violin
When superstar violinist Joshua Bell and operatic soprano Larisa Martínez tied the knot in 2019, they had no idea about the future that awaited them. They barely had time to pause their busy careers…
Respighi: Pines of Rome
Resphigi’s fascination with Rome’s fountains and pine trees reflects a love affair with his new home. Upon moving to Rome from his native Bologna in 1913, Respighi said that the city’s “marvellous fountains” and “umbrella-like pines that appear in every part of the horizon [have] spoken to my imagination above all.”
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
It’s hard for us to imagine Antonio Vivaldi as a radical. Yet to 18th-century audiences, his masterwork, The Four Seasons, was like a breath of fresh air to some, a slap in the face to others. “Il Prete Rosso has gone crazy this time,” some must have muttered…
Richard Strauss: An Alpine Symphony
The history of the symphony orchestra is all about growth. As composers’ ideas and demands became bigger and more complex, so did the number and type of instruments required to bring them to life….
Introducing Pacific Symphony’s Next Artistic and Music Director Alexander Shelley
Pacific Symphony Board Chair Arthur Ong and President and CEO John Forsyte are pleased to announce the appointment of Alexander Shelley as the orchestra’s third Music Director, beginning in the 2026-27 season, for an initial five-year term…
In Memoriam: Ellie Gordon, A Woman of Valor Devoted to the Arts and Family
Eleanor (“Ellie”) Gordon’s life was a symphony, each movement reflecting the many ways she enriched the lives of those around her…
Berlioz tells it like it is.
The life of French composer Hector Berlioz encompassed contradictory extremes….
Celebrating 35 Extraordinary Years of Maestro Carl St.Clair with Pacific Symphony
This season, we embark on a journey unlike any other. As we celebrate the remarkable 35-year legacy of Maestro Carl St.Clair, we honor not just a conductor, but a visionary who has woven his passion, heart, and soul into the very fabric of Pacific Symphony…