May 2008
May 14, 18, 22 & 24, 2008
Opera Pacific presents
Susannah
Susannah is a first for Opera Pacific. It’s an all-American folk opera of raw emotional power, set in rural, Depression-era Tennessee and based on the Apocryphal story of “Susannah and the Elders.” Susannah tells the poignant story of a girl’s life and dreams shattered by bigotry, zealotry and the abuse of power. Floyd’s 1955 opera is filled with music based on folk songs, dances and revival tunes of the Americana depicted in so many of Thomas Hart Benton’s paintings.
$27 -$275
Segerstrom Hall
Calendar of Events
May 1 – 3 ∙ Thursday – Saturday at 8 p.m.
Pacific Symphony presents Classical Series
Mozart, Shostakovich & Spivakov
The evening is full of delights. The program features not only Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 2 played by Vladimir Spivakov, conductor and one of the foremost violinists of his generation, but also Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9. The latter is a playful and vivid work that the composer himself called “a joyful little piece.” Also on the program is Mozart’s Symphony No. 29.
$25 - $175
Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
May 2 – 4 ∙ Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Family
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
German puppeteer Matthias Kuchta and his puppets are certain to mesmerize their young audience with the classic tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. With the use of almost lifelike puppets with magnificent faces, Kuchta interprets the fairy tale of the queen, the dwarfs, the prince and Snow White. He uses the vital charm of fairy tales to involve the children again and again into each play.
$14 & $19
Samueli Theater
May 8 – 10, 2008 ∙ Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m.
Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Off Center
500 Clown: Frankenstein
The Chicago-based ensemble 500 Clown combines circus arts, improvisation and action-based performance to produce theater that celebrates the unpredictable power of the moment. The company has earned rave reviews for its work which catapults the performers into extreme physical and emotional risk and makes the audience active participants in the thrilling ride. In 500 Clown Frankenstein, three clowns make a madcap journey to construct Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory.
$30
Samueli Theater
May 8 ∙ Thursday at 8 p.m.
Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents
Philharmonia Orchestra
With conductor Christoph von Dohnányi directing, the Philharmonia Orchestra performs compositions by Weber, Schumann and Beethoven in the Concert Hall. Acknowledged as the United Kingdom’s foremost musical pioneer, the Philharmonia leads the field for its quality of playing and for its innovative approach to audience development, residencies and music education.
$25 - $250
Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
May 11 ∙ Sunday at 3 p.m.
Pacific Symphony presents Café Ludwig
Brahms, Stravinsky & Schumann
A musical quartet comprised of pianist Stephen Prutsman, violinist Raymond Kobler, cellist Timothy Landauer and Robert Becker playing the viola will offer a variety of compositions. They include Sonata in E-flat for Viola and Piano by Brahms; Three Movements from Petrouchka by Stravinsky and Piano Quartet in E-flat major by Schumann.
$55 - $72
Samueli Theater
May 14, 18, 22 & 24 ∙ Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., Thursday & Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Opera Pacific presents
Susannah
Susannah is a first for Opera Pacific. It’s an all-American folk opera of raw emotional power, set in rural, Depression-era Tennessee and based on the Apocryphal story of “Susannah and the Elders.” Susannah tells the poignant story of a girl’s life and dreams shattered by bigotry, zealotry and the abuse of power. Floyd’s 1955 opera is filled with music based on folk songs, dances and revival tunes of the Americana depicted in so many of Thomas Hart Benton’s paintings.
$27 - $275
Segerstrom Hall
May 17 ∙ Saturday at 8 p.m.
Pacific Chorale presents
Revelations, Revolutions
Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony conducted by John Alexander bring to light a rediscovered masterpiece from the early 1900's by Horatio Parker. The program will also include the dramatic West Coast premiere by Pulitzer Prize winner David Del Tredici.
$20 - $140
Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
May 18, 2008 ∙ Sunday at 4 p.m.
Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra presents
Peace & Remembrance
Michael Hall concludes his tenure at the Pacific Symphony by leading his final performance with the Youth Orchestra. The concert will feature Mahler’s symphonic poem “Totenfeier,” which was later incorporated into his monumental Symphony No. 2 as the opening movement.
$15 & $20
Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
May 29 – 31, 2008 ∙ Thursday – Saturday at 8 p.m.
Pacific Symphony presents Classical Series
Rite of Spring
With Maestro Carl St.Clair at the podium, Pacific Symphony offers the foremost orchestral achievement of the 20th century as proclaimed by The New York Times - Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Also on the program is Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Schnittke’s Not a Midsummer Night’s Dream.
$25 - $175
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
May 31 – June 1 ∙ Saturday at 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Family
Dan Zanes
The former lead singer and songwriter for the rock band, The Del Fuegos, Grammy Award winner Dan Zanes was inspired by the birth of his child to make “21st Century family music” for kids and grown-ups to enjoy together, regardless of one’s age, size or temperament.
$25
Samueli Theater
Orange County Performing Artscenter
Orange County Performing Artscenter is committed to supporting artistic excellence on all of its stages and engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through an array of inspiring programs.
Orange County Performing Artscenter owns and operates the 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall and intimate 250-seat Founders Hall, which opened in 1986, and the 2,000-seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, which opened in 2006 and also houses the 500-seat Samueli Theater and the
These state-of-the-art facilities are united by a community arts plaza and outdoor performance venue. The Center’s Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, along with facilities of the adjacent Tony® Award-winning South Coast Repertory and a site for a future visual arts museum, are located within Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Orange County Performing Artscenter presents a broad range of programming each season, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, intimate performances of jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, free performances open to the public, from outdoor movie screenings and dancing on the Plaza to many other special events.
Many programs are designed to inspire young people through the arts. These programs reach more than 500,000 students of all ages with vital arts-in-education programs, enhancing their studies and enriching their lives well into the future.
The Center is proud to serve as the artistic home to the region’s major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Opera Pacific and the Pacific Chorale.
For more information, visit OCPAC.org.
Free Public Tours
The Performing Artscenter offers tours of Southern California's award-winning home for the performing arts and its expanded facilities. The tours take visitors through the three venues, making this a perfect outing for groups or anyone who wants to know more about the performing arts. The tour is conducted by Performing Artscenter Docents. Public tours are conducted Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Private group tours are by reservation only.
Please note: Private and public tours of all Center halls are now available.
Please call 714.556.2122, ext. 4259 for more information on either the private or the public tours.
Performing Artscenter applauds the following for their support:
Automobile Club of S.C.
Bank of America
Mercedes-Benz, Presenting Sponsor
OC Family
Sempra Energy
The Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher
Foundation, Inc.
The James Irvine Foundation
For more information about individual programs and ticket prices, call:
Performing Artscenter - 714.556.2787
Pacific Symphony – 714.755.5799
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County – 949.553.2422
Opera Pacific – 800.346.7372
Pacific Chorale – 714.662.2345
