André Watts Plays Beethoven

KUSC is broadcasting the twelfth and final concert of the Pacific Symphony's 2015-2016 classical concert series tonight at 7 PM (PST).

Listen to Alan Chapman's preview on SoundCloud.

Music director Carl St.Clair conducted with pianist André Watts.

Ludwig van Beethoven:  Concerto No. 4 in G Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 58

Hector Berlioz:  Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14

We went to the open rehearsal, Saturday concert, and Sunday concerts!  :)

Vivaldi's Four Seasons

KUSC is broadcasting the eleventh concert of the Pacific Symphony's 2015-2016 classical concert series tonight at 7 PM (PST).

Listen to Alan Chapman's preview on SoundCloud.

Music director Carl St.Clair conducted with violinist Philippe Quint, who also lead the Vivaldi.

Antonio Vivaldi:  The Four Seasons, Op. 8

Richard Strauss:  An Alpine Symphony, TrV 233, Op. 64

We went to the Saturday concert.  Too bad there's no video on the radio!

Beethoven's Ninth

We're going to the summer Pacific Symphony concert tonight at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheater.

Music director Carl St.Clair will be conducting the Pacific Chorale, with soprano Mary Wilson, mezzo-soprano Mary Wilson, tenor John Bellemer, and bass Kevin Deas.  This is the same casting as the classical series concert they did last October.

Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man

Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings

John Williams: Liberty Fanfare

John Williams: Hymn to the Fallen from "Saving Private Ryan"

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125, Choral

This is also going to be the last concert with principal violist Bob Becker.  We sure will miss him.  He is the funniest, and the tallest violist I've every seen.  :)

Midori

KUSC is broadcasting the tenth concert of the Pacific Symphony's 2015-2016 classical concert series tonight at 7 PM (PST).

Listen to Alan Chapman's preview on SoundCloud.

Guest conductor Bramwell Tovey conducted with violinist Midori, and the Women of Pacific Chorale.

Claude Debussy (Arr. Leopold Stokowski):  Clair de Lune

Erich Wolfgang Korngold:  Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 35

Gustav Holst:  The Planets

We went to the Saturday concert.  Don't miss Bramwell's thoughts on the pieces right after the Debussy.  :)

Rhapsody in Blue

KUSC is broadcasting the ninth concert of the Pacific Symphony's 2015-2016 classical concert series tonight at 7 PM (PST).

Listen to Alan Chapman's preview on SoundCloud.

Music director Carl St.Clair conducted with pianist Simone Dinnerstein.

Charles Ives:  Symphony No. 2

Maurice Ravel:  Concerto in G Major for Piano and Orchestra

George Gershwin:  Rhapsody in Blue

We went to the Sunday performance, which featured the two piano pieces.  A reminder, this concert's Rhapsody in Blue is Ferde Grofé's version, equipped with 3 saxophones and a banjo!

Tchaikovsky's Fifth

KUSC is broadcasting the eighth concert of the Pacific Symphony's 2015-2016 classical concert series tonight at 7 PM (PST).

Listen to Alan Chapman's preview on SoundCloud.

Guest conductor Manuel López-Gómez conducted with guitarist Pablo Villegas.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov:  Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34

Joaquìn Rodrigo:  Fantasía para un gentilhombre (Fantasy for a Nobleman)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:  Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64, TH 29

I've never heard the Rodrigo piece before, so that's something to look forward to.  :)