Bolero & Hot Latin Nights

Went to the Pacific Symphony's third summer concert on Sunday.
(disclosure)

The Verizon Wireless Amphitheater is now called the "Irvine Meadows Amphitheater".

From way up north, I took the 55-S to 5-S to 133-S to 405-S.

I got off immediately at the Irvine Center Drive and took a right.

The venue will be on your right.  :)

I went solo this time, so I took a lot of pictures.  :)

Right after you enter the gate, a concert was being performed on the left, I think they were the Huntington Beach Concert Band.

Normally, I will be pulling a wagon with two kids up to the venue.

First corner.  "Are we there yet?"  :)

Second corner.  "Are we there yet?"  :)

Here's another gate, that leads to the food trucks, etc.

The sign still says "Verizon Wireless"...

Today's seat was in the orchestra section, so I didn't have to climb up any stairs.

In fact, I climbed down!  :)

In case you want to get to the lawn seats, here's the stairway...

... that leads to a steeper slope ...

(Imaging pulling up a wagon full of dinner, snacks, etc.)

... and you are rewarded with a wonderful view.  :)



The concert started out with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34.

Music director Carl St. Clair lead the symphony on this familiar tune.

Next is the Ritual Fire Dance from El Amor Brujo by Manuel de Falla, the only Spaniard composer on this program!  :)

Mezzo-soprano Milena Kitić sang a few pieces from Georges Bizet's Carmen.

Her favorite is "Seguidilla", where Carmen seduces Don José to free her from prison.  :)

Here's what the crowd looked like during intermission.



In the second half, the symphony was joined by John Tu and Friends.

Carl conducted Georges Bizet's work, Farandole from L’Arlésienne, Suite No. 2.

Continued on to America from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein.

The baton was passed to Larry Ball, who conducted On Broadway, with Beau Williams singing.




Then came Bobby Rivas, and the Dances of Latin America!

Mas, que Nada (Samba)

Por una Cabeza (Tango)

Rico Vacilón (Cha Cha)

Llorarás (Salsa)

Ran Kan Kan (Mambo)

The dancers were Tara Ghassemieh, David Kim, Denys Drozdyuk, and Antonina Skobina.
(David Kim also danced Romeo in the classical concert series.)

To wind things down, John Tu conducted Maurice Ravel's Bolero.

And the concert ended with everyone on stage.

Daniel Flores's Tequila, where the audience joined in and shouted, "Tequila!".  :)