Matthew Halls Leads Pacific Symphony in Challenging Vaughan Williams
REVIEW: The British conductor makes a strong case for the composer’s neglected Sixth Symphony in an impressive tryout for the orchestra. The fourth candidate (out of eight this season) vying...
January 12, 2024
‘Music of the March’ Performance Celebrates Motown and the Life of Martin Luther King Jr.
Debora Wondercheck’s mother grew up in Chicago in a predominantly white suburb during the Jim Crow era. Iola King had a strong dream as a child to play string instruments,...
January 10, 2024
2023’s Top 5 Moments in Theater, Dance and Classical Music
The year 2023 is rapidly coming to an end. But while we box up assorted gifts and prepare for 2024, let’s take a moment to reflect on the best in...
December 27, 2023
Pacific Symphony in Transition, Part 1: An Ambitious Young Orchestra Survives Some Growing Pains
NEXT Pacific Symphony in Transition, Part 2: Growth, Turmoil, Tragedy and Triumph Pacific Symphony in Transition, Part 3: Finding a New Conductor for Changing Times Back in the mid-1980s, the...
December 18, 2023
Alexander Shelley Vies for Pacific Symphony Conducting Job
REVIEW: The English conductor impresses with accomplished reading of Dvořák staple. The third in line to the throne of Carl St.Clair’s music directorship stopped by Thursday night at Segerstrom Concert...
December 1, 2023
Ludovic Morlot Takes His Chance at Pacific Symphony Podium
REVIEW: With an exceptional account of Debussy’s La Mer, the conductor plays to his strengths. The second guest conductor of the season trying out for the Pacific Symphony’s music directorship...
November 17, 2023
Re-Imagining the Railroad
Silkroad Ensemble takes on the American Railroad in its latest cross-cultural musical exploration. America didn’t make the first locomotive, but nothing made America like the train. When the last spike...
November 6, 2023
Irvine Barclay Theatre President Jerry Mandel to Step Down
Jerry Mandel, president of Irvine Barclay Theatre, will leave his position at the end of this year. The announcement was made today. Craig Springer, Irvine Barclay Theatre’s executive vice president,...
November 2, 2023
‘Two Remain’ Brings Opera Composer Back to O.C., Where His Career Took Off
Jake Heggie hopes upcoming O.C. production with Lyric Opera finally completes a challenging project. When the lights go up Saturday in the Huntington Beach Central Library’s theater for the final...
November 1, 2023
Kluxen’s Debut Impresses, Launching Pacific Symphony’s Conductor Tryouts
REVIEW: The Danish conductor made a strong case for himself with a dazzling reading of Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5. The games have begun and they’re going to be fun. A...
October 20, 2023
Pacific Symphony Searches for a New Leader in Challenging Times
The 2023-2024 season will feature many guest conductors seeking to succeed longtime music director Carl St.Clair. This article kicks off a series of in-depth looks at the past, present and...
October 16, 2023
Orange County Arts Awards Honor Local Talent, Organizations and Patrons
The five honorees who will be recognized Oct. 17 at the 23rd Orange County Arts Awards hail from distinctly different artistic sectors: flamenco dance, theater education, professional music performance, stimulating...
October 13, 2023
