2008-2009 CONCERT SEASON
Highlights include:
OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION WITH PIANIST LANG LANG
GUSTAVO DUDAMEL CONDUCTS THE
THE RETURN OF MEZZO-SOPRANO CECILIA BARTOLI
VALERY GERGIEV CONDUCTS THE
JULIA FISCHER PERFORMS WITH
THE ACADEMY OF ST. MARTIN IN THE FIELDS
2008-09 ORCHESTRA CONCERTS
Concerts held at the Orange County Performing Artscenter’s
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the
The Society presents eleven magnificent concerts featuring
world-class orchestras, conductors and soloists.
Bursting onto the international opera scene after winning first prize in the 2000 Operalia competition founded by Plácido Domingo, soprano sensation Isabel Bayrakdarian is admired for her stunning stage presence and exceptional musicality. The young Armenian-Canadian has performed in many of the world’s major opera houses, most recently endearing herself to London’s audiences in her Royal Opera House debut as Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. Joining her is the Armenian Chamber Ensemble on Sunday, October 5, 2008, 7pm, to perform works by Grieg, Bartok, and Gomidas. (Program is to be announced).
Hailed as “an innovative jazz saxophonist who also happens to be a classical performer with phenomenal technique,” Branford Marsalis leads the Philharmonic Brasilianos on Saturday, October 11, 2008, 8pm. The program includes Villa-Lobos: Fantasia for Soprano Saxophone, A 490; Suite for Strings, A. 054; Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5, A. 389; Milhaud’s La Création du Monde, Op. 81; and Scaramouche, Op. 165c.
The Israel Philharmonic returns to Orange County since their 2003 appearance, with rising star conductor Gustavo Dudamel on Sunday, November 23, 2008, 3pm, to perform Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 “Italian,” and Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98. Gustavo Dudamel will be the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s new music director starting the 2009-10 season. This concert is part of the Elizabeth & Henry Segerstrom Select Series.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic will make their annual Orange County visit on Friday, January 23, 2009, 8pm. Led by conductor StÉphane DenÉve in his
Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony appear on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 8pm, to peform Tilson Thomas: Street Song for Symphonic Brass, Copland: Symphony for Organ and Orchestra (1924), and Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64. This concert is part of the Elizabeth & Henry Segerstrom Select Series.
Handel’s Water Music will be performed by Les Violons du Roy on Friday, February 20, 2009, 8pm, with conductor Bernard Labadie. The evening’s program will also feature Purcell: Chacony from King Arthur, Z. 628/40, and Haydn: Symphony No. 48 in C major (Maria Theresa).
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Orange County debut of the Dublin Philharmonic on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 8pm. Led by conductor Derek Gleeson making his Orange County debut, the evening’s program includes Gleeson: Overture from A Symphony of Celtic Song, Cassidy: Aughrim Suite and Deirdre of the Sorrows, aria from Oratorio, Whelan: Irishlacken, Concerto for two violins and orchestra, and concludes with a medley of Irish orchestral arrangements. Other artists include Gerry O’Connor (violin and banjo), Emer Maycock (Uilleann pipes), Robert Harris (bodhran), and Mairead Buicke (soprano).
The London Symphony Orchestra appears on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 8pm, and Thursday, March 19, 2009, 8pm. Valery Gergiev will lead the ensemble with guest pianist Alexei Volodin in his Orange County debut. Music selections for the first evening (March 18, 2009) include Prokofiev: Classical Symphony, Op. 25, Beethoven: Piano concerto No. 4, Op. 58 in G minor, and Prokofiev: Symphony No. 6, Op. 111 in E-flat minor. The second evening (March 19, 2009) will include Beethoven: Piano concerto No. 5 “Emperor” Op. 73 in E-flat, and Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5, Op. 100. The March 18 concert is part of the Elizabeth & Henry Segerstrom Select Series. The March 19 concert is a Shanbrom Family Concert.
Under the guidance of Artistic Direcot John Alexander, Pacific Chorale and Southern California's premier Baroque ensemble Musica Angelica perform Bach’s St. John Passion on Friday, April 10, 2009, 8pm. Originally meant to be performed for the first time in the St. Thomas church in Leipzig, the St. John Passion was first performed in 1724 in the St. Nicholas' church.
The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields return as they celebrate their 50th anniversary tour with leader and violin soloist Julia Fischer on Saturday, May 2, 2009, 8pm. Hear Britten: Variations on a Theme of
THE 2008-09 RECITALS
Enjoy three recitals with classical music’s finest.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008, 8pm, at the Orange County Performing Artscenter’s Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Lang Lang returns with a solo recital since his last appearance with the China Philharmonic in 2005. Considered by the New York Times to be the “hottest artist on the classical music planet,” Lang Lang’s artistry and ability to connect with audiences on a personal level have established him as an international sensation and one of the most exciting and charismatic artists of our time. This concert is part of the Elizabeth & Henry Segerstrom Select Series. (Program to be announced.)
Considered to be a lyric and dramatic coloratura, the return of Italian mezzo-soprano superstar Cecilia Bartoli will enchant
Distinguished American pianist Richard Goode has been hailed for music making of tremendous emotional power, depth and expressiveness. His ability to enter and illuminate the different worlds of each composer he plays has inspired one critic to remark, “You’d swear the composer himself was at the keyboard, expressing musical thoughts that had just come into his head.” The Society last presented Mr. Goode during the 1990-91 concert season and again in 1998 with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 8pm, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. (Program to be announced).
THE 2008-09 CHAMBER CONCERTS
Hear four exceptional ensembles as they return to showcase their abilities in intimate settings.
The Musicians from Marlboro will perform Kodály: Serenade, Op. 12, Beethoven: Serenade in D major, Op. 25, Beethoven: Quintet in C major, Op. 29, on Thursday, March 5, 2009, 8pm, at the Orange County Performing Artscenter’s Samueli Theatre. Founded in 1951 on the hilltop campus of
Curtis Institute on Tour brings the extraordinary talents of the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music, making their
Praised for its highly sophisticated, sensual sound and extensive range of color, the Brentano String Quartet returns with pianist Peter SERKIN and baritone Richard Lalli on Monday, March 16, 2009, 8pm, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, to perform a new commissioned work by Charles Wuorinen: Piano Quintet. Other works include Haydn: Quartet in D minor, Op. 76, No. 2 (“Quinten”), Schoenberg: Ode to Napoleon (for quartet, piano and baritone), and Beethoven: “Grosse Fugue,” Op. 133.
Since making their debut at the White House for President Carter's Inauguration in January 1977, the Kalichstein -
2008-09 SPECIAL CONCERTS
Experience the
Orange
The Society presents the
Celebrate the holidays “mariachi-style” with the
Since their sold-out performance for the Society in 2007, The 5 Browns – classical music’s first family of piano virtuosos – return to
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All dates, times, programs, artists and prices are subject to change.
