The return of piano virtuoso Lang Lang, a mini-festival celebrating the Jazz Age of the 1920s and the introduction of a new composer-in-residence are among the highlights of the Pacific Symphony’s 2022-23 season, announced today, March 1.
“Pacific Symphony is entering a new era of discovery, exploring new musical experiences to share with our audiences,” Music Director Carl St.Clair said in a statement. “We look forward to introducing you to exciting new voices and music from around the world.”
The season’s opening concert will feature “Re(new)al,” a work by new composer-in-residence Viet Cuong that will be performed by the Sandbox Percussion ensemble and will feature “found” instruments such as crystal glasses and compressed air cans.
“He will be contributing to our musical lives in so many ways,” St.Clair said. “And, as a Vietnamese American, he will help us to engage in new cultural conversations with Orange County’s Vietnamese community, the largest in the world outside of Vietnam itself.”
The season will also spotlight the work of female composers, including Gabriela Ortiz from Mexico (Oct. 20-22), Anna Clyne from the United Kingdom (Nov. 17-19) and Clarice Assad from Brazil (Dec. 1-3).
Here are the season’s highlights:
Lang Lang (Sept. 18): The pianist’s return will actually precede the start of the season. The man lauded by the New York Times as “the hottest artist on the classical music planet” will perform Saint-Saëns’ Second Piano Concerto on a special-event program that will also feature Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite” and Mussogorsky’s “Pictures at an Exhbition.”
Beethoven & Boléro (Sept. 22-24): Violonist Dennis Kim, cellist Warren Hagerty and pianist Orli Shaham will play Beethoven’s Triple Concerto. The evening will also include Wagner’s Overture to “The Flying Dutchman,” Viet Cuong’s “Re(new)al” and Ravel’s “Boléro.”
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto (Oct. 20-22): Pianist Claire Huangci will be the featured soloist in the concerto. The program will also feature Gabriella Ortiz’s “Luz Eólica” from “Altar de Viento” and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4.
“The Planets” (Nov. 17-19): Guest conductor Karen Kamensek will lead the orchestra in Holst’s “The Planets” along with Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy” and the world premiere of Anna Clyne’s “Pivot.”
Milos Plays Rodrigo (Dec. 1-3): Guitarist Milos will play Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez” as part of a program that will include Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances and the world premiere of Clarice Assad’s “Sin Fronteras.”
Mahler 9 (Jan. 12-14): The symphony will perform Mahler’s heralded Symphony No. 9 in three concerts.
Bronfman Plays Schumann (Feb. 2-4): Soloist Yefim Bronfman will play Schumann’s Piano Concerto. Also on tap will be Prokofiev’s Suite from “Romeo and Juliet” and Johann Strauss Jr.’s “On the Beautiful Blue Danube.”
Tchaikovsky & Strauss (Feb. 23-25): The concert will begin with Richard Strauss’ Seranade for Winds and conclude with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and in between will be the world premiere John Wineglass’s Violin Concerto, with Dennis Kim as soloist.
Tao Plays Mozart (March 16-18, 2023): Soloist Conrad Tao joins with the symphony to perform the composer’s Piano Concerto No. 24 as part of a program that will include Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 and the world premiere of Kilar’s “Orawa.”
Verdi’s Rigoletto (April 20-25), 2023): The Pacific Symphony and Pacific Chorale will perform a version of the opera.
The Roaring Twenties (May 11-13, 2023): This mini-festival will feature three distinct elements: A concert in which the symphony will play Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and “An American in Paris” and Anthiel’s “A Jazz Symphony,” plus other works still to be announced; a dance party on the outdoor plaza where attendees can foxtrot to music by John Tu and Friends and the screening of a landmark silent film with organ accompaniment by Dennis James.
Grieg Piano Concerto (June 1-3, 2023): Pianist Louie Lortie will play the Grieg concerto guest conductor Teddy Abrams will also lead the orchestra in Stravinksy’s “Petrushka” and the world premiere of his own composition, Overture in Sonata Form.
Cathedrals of Sound (June 15-17, 2023): Sorpano Elissa Johnston and the Pacific Chorale will perform a program that will include the world premiere James McMillain’s “Fiat Lux” and Richard Strauss’ “Death and Transfiguration.”
Season subscriptions of four-to-12 concerts will save purchasers 40% off single-event ticket prices. Tickets for special concerts, such as Lang Lang’s return, are currently available to buy only with subscriptions. For information, call 714-755-5799 or go to pacificsymphony.org.
