Santa Cruz Symphony's 2019-20 Season Announced

Santa Cruz Symphony’s 2019-20 Season

Join us for our exciting 62nd Season! We will be featuring pianist Jon Nakamatsu, composer/DJ Mason Bates, Concertmaster Nigel Armstrong and soloists from the Metropolitan Opera.

Oct 12 & 13, 2019 - Ascendence

BATES - Mothership
Mason Bates

STRAVINSKY - Firebird suite

BEETHOVEN - Piano concerto no. 5
Jon Nakamatsu

Our opening concert features world-renowned pianist and local fan favorite Jon Nakamatsu performing Beethoven’s magisterial Piano Concerto No. 5, 'The Emperor'. We begin the concert with Grammy award-winning composer & DJ Mason Bates who will join us for performances of his wildly popular showpiece for DJ and orchestra, 'Mothership'.  Bates was named the most-performed composer of his generation in a recent survey of American music and was named Composer of the Year by Musical America in 2018. We round out the program with Stravinsky’s enchanting score to his 'Firebird' ballet which luxuriates in dazzlingly romanticism.

 

Nov 2 & 3, 2019 - Horizons 

SALONEN - Violin Concerto 
Nigel Armstrong

DVORÁK - Symphony no. 7 

Dvorak’s explosive Symphony no. 7 is paired with Esa-Pekka Salonen’s mesmerizing Violin Concerto, performed by our internationally acclaimed concertmaster Nigel Armstrong.

  

Feb 1 & 2, 2020 - Catharsis

MAHLER - Symphony no. 5

 Mahler’s Symphony no. 5 begins with the most famous four notes since Beethoven’s 5th, includes his greatest love song, the Adagietto, and charts the course from inner agony to ecstasy of the soul. 

 

Mar 1, 2020 - Family Concert The Orchestra Sings

Omari Tau Williams will once again be joining us as the Master of Ceremonies for our Family concert. Bring an instrument and play along with the Symphony, then stay after for the Instrument Petting Zoo.

  

Mar 28 & 29, 2020 - MetamorphosIs

MONCAYO - Huapango

SAINT-SAËNS - Introduction & Rondo Capricicoso
Alex Zhou

MASSENET - Méditation from Thaïs
Alex Zhou

PROKOFIEV - Symphony no. 5

 Prokofiev’s mastery of cultural and political elements reaches its apotheosis in his visionary Symphony No. 5. Moncayo’s Huapango celebrates zapateado dance traditions of Mexico, while Massenet’s breathtakingly beautiful Méditation from Thaïs and Saint-Saëns’ thrillingly virtuosic Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso will feature Klein Competition winner and violinist Alex Zhou.

 

May 2 & 3, 2020 - Rapture

LULLY - Marche pour la ceremonie des Turcs

DENZA - Funiculi Funicula

VIVALDI - Nulla in Mundo Pax Sincera

ORFF - Carmina Burana
Soli TBA 
Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus

 Orff’s awe-inspiring masterpiece Carmina Burana returns by popular demand! The electrifying power of this musical journey around the wheel of fortune is legendary, and will continue Maestro Stewart’s tradition of featuring world renowned soloists from the Metropolitan Opera, and the beloved Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus. Our soloists will also be featured in one of the most beloved Italian songs in history, Funiculi Funicula, and Vivaldi’s Nulla In Mundo Pax Sincera.

Jun 6, 2020 - Pops Concert “2020: A Movie Odyssey”

Take an odyssey through movie history with this family-friendly pops concert. Themes from 2011: A Space Odyssey, Lawrence of Arabia, The Godfather, Pink Panther, Mission Impossible, Batman, and more!

Spotlight on the Symphony Recital Series

We will once again be featuring our Symphony musicians in a series of three recitals. The dates and programming will be announced by the end of April.