Shiyeon Sung Leads Pacific Symphony in Impressive Performance of Tchaikovsky
REVIEW: The Korean conductor, the first woman to try out for the orchestra’s music directorship, exhibits authority and intelligence. Shiyeon Sung became the first woman conductor this season to try...
April 26, 2024
With ‘Prelude to a Kiss, The Musical,’ SCR Adds New Wrinkles to the Play it Originated 36 Years Ago
REVIEW: Playwright Craig Lucas and company have, for better or worse, wrought a different theatrical animal, seemingly missing key emotional dynamics. In the opening scene of “Prelude to a Kiss,...
April 21, 2024
‘Prelude to a Kiss’ Reemerges in a Whole New Form at SCR
South Coast Repertory originated Craig Lucas’s play in 1988. Now Lucas, SCR and others have created an all-new musical version. The evolution of a new stage musical is always something...
April 5, 2024
Prieto and Pacific Take the Fifth (Mahler’s, That Is)
REVIEW: In an impressive reading of the composer’s symphony, Carlos Miguel Prieto makes his case for the orchestra’s directorship. We’ve had a number of Fifths this season at the Pacific...
March 15, 2024
Andrew Litton Throws His Hat in Pacific Symphony Ring
REVIEW: The American conductor leads an authoritative Shostakovich; Alessio Bax plays Beethoven. Candidate number five for the position of the Pacific Symphony’s music directorship showed up Thursday night at Segerstrom...
February 23, 2024
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
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
‘A Raisin in the Sun’ Both a Classic and a Historical Snapshot
REVIEW: SCR’s new production of the 1959 drama underscores the strength of Lorraine Hansberry’s concepts – and of her writing. While the multifaceted Lorraine Hansberry’s talents extended to literary writing,...
October 30, 2023
SCR’s ‘Quixote Nuevo’ is an Enjoyable Feast Marred Only by Too Many Thematic Ingredients
REVIEW: While uneven, the ambitious, visually and aurally elaborate contemporary update of the Don Quixote tale is well worth seeing. “Don Quixote” has been around for more than 400 years,...
October 9, 2023
SCR’s ‘Quixote Nuevo’ is an Enjoyable Feast Marred Only by Too Many Thematic Ingredients
REVIEW: While uneven, the ambitious, visually and aurally elaborate contemporary update of the Don Quixote tale is well worth seeing. “Don Quixote” has been around for more than 400 years,...
October 9, 2023
Pacific Symphony Opens 45th Season with Rousing Strauss
REVIEW: Carl St.Clair leads a capable performance of the composer’s Ein Heldenleben as the orchestra begins searching for his successor. It’s going to be a fun-to-watch season at the Pacific...
September 22, 2023
