COMEDY, TRAGEDY, AND ROMANCE IN SEVILLE

Why have more than 100 operas been set in Seville? We think we have the answer. Seville is brimming with picturesque plazas, historical monuments, and stunning architecture in Moorish and Gothic styles. Could there be a more perfect backdrop for the comedy, tragedy, and seductive romance of opera? Of course not! And Your Symphony is ready to prove it.

Our October 21/22 program, Operas of Seville, will highlight this dazzling array of operas. Santa Cruz Symphony will perform orchestral selections from operatic works by Mozart, Rossini, Beethoven, Verdi, Bizet, and Waxman.

Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) and Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) are both based on a series of plays by Pierre Beaumarchais featuring the character of Figaro. The Symphony will bring us the Overtures from these timeless comic operas. (We know you'll recognize many of these pieces!) Beethoven’s Leonore Overture no. 3 distills the essence of the work that would evolve into Fidelio, Beethoven’s only opera. Similarly, Verdi’s Overture to La forza del destino (The Force of Destiny) offers the opera's story in miniature form, containing hints and themes from the work as a whole.

Arranged by Bizet’s friend Ernest Guiraud after his death, Carmen Suites 1 & 2 draw from Bizet’s Carmen, a convention-breaking opera that scandalized audiences in 1875 because of its overt sensuality. The orchestra will draw again from Carmen with Carmen Fantasie, composed by Franz Waxman in the 1940s and intended for some of the world’s greatest violinists. Our new concertmaster Nancy Zhou will make her Santa Cruz Symphony debut as soloist with an exquisite virtuoso performance of this piece.

Mark your calendar and order your tickets now for Your Symphony’s stunning second concert of the season!