Join us November 5 for a piano recital with Hakan Ali Toker

Turkish pianist Hakan Ali Toker has something very special to celebrate! His full sense of hearing has been restored, so he is changing his approach to music. A childhood accident progressively reduced his ability to hear a full range of sound. But surgery a few months ago changed his entire world. Now he can hear his music the same way his audience does.

"I had no idea the difference would be so huge! Now that everything is much louder and clearer, I feel like saying less with fewer notes. Every sound has meaning and a spiritual effect on me now." Mr. Toker says. 

He was so grateful that he gave a recital in Istanbul to honor the doctors and others who gave him a gift that will change the foundations of his musical career.

Now you can celebrate with him as Santa Cruz Symphony presents Hakan Ali Toker in recital at 2 PM on Sunday, November 5, at Cabrillo College's Samper Recital Hall. This performance will be a piano extravaganza – a follow-up to his brilliant debut with Your Symphony last season.

This recital will feature classical standards by Bach, Brahms, and Chopin, as well as Mr. Toker’s own compositions and arrangements. Maestro Daniel Stewart will join him on several of his works for viola and piano.

As always, our recitals are held in an intimate setting, where the musicians interact with the audience. Because of the limited capacity, order your tickets now for the best seating.

Hakan Ali Toker

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5 at 2 PM

Samper Hall at Cabrillo College

We're offering special discount packages to anyone who purchases three recitals in the series. Purchase three recitals and you'll save $20 total on your tickets!

All recital ticket sales are handled by the Cabrillo Box Office. You can find this excellent deal on the ticket page at this link, by clicking the "buy recital tickets" button above, or by calling the Cabrillo Box Office at 831-479-6154. We hope to see you there!

COMEDY, TRAGEDY, AND ROMANCE: OPERAS OF SEVILLE ON OCTOBER 21/22!

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!

STILL NEED TO BUY SEASON TICKETS? Four-concert subscriptions are available for purchase until October 19.

Mads Tolling & The Mads Men recital, plus Echos of Empire concert rebroadcast!

 

THIS SUNDAY, ENJOY A RECITAL AND A CONCERT REBROADCAST ON THE SAME DAY!

Fall in love with jazz all over again! Our popular recital series will start off the 2023-24 season with a bang. Two-time Grammy Award winner Mads Tolling & the Mads Men will perform in person at the intimate Samper Hall at Cabrillo College. The Mads Men will bring us tunes from their critically-acclaimed release Playing the 60s, ranging from "A Taste of Honey" and "Meet the Flinstones" to "Good Vibrations" and "Georgia On My Mind." Joining Mads on his journey are his Mads Men — world-class musicians Frank Martin on piano and Gary Brown on bass.

Click here to learn more about this incredible group. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear a true jazz legend. Seating is limited, so reserve now!

"This is stellar performing. Tolling's playing is near unbelievable." — C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz

Mads Tolling & the Mads Men
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 at 2 PM
Samper Hall at Cabrillo College

To celebrate the kickoff of our recital series, we're offering special discount packages to anyone who purchases three or four recitals in the series.Purchase three recitals and you'll save $20 total on your tickets; purchase four recitals and save $25!

All recital ticket sales are handled by the Cabrillo Box Office. You can find this excellent deal on the ticket page at this link, by clicking the "buy recital tickets" button above, or by calling the Cabrillo Box Office at 831-479-6154. We hope to see you there!

ECHOS OF EMPIRE FULL CONCERT REBROADCAST IS OCTOBER 8!

Our Echos of Empire concerts on September 23 and 24 were incredible! The drum concerto alone had the audience on its feet. If you missed the concerts, or just want to relive this performance, you can listen to the concert rebroadcast.

At 4 PM on Sunday, October 8 go to KAZU.org's classical station (or click the button below to be taken there) to experience the entire program performed by the Santa Cruz Symphony!

Here's how to listen:

1 - Go to the KAZU website

2 - Click "All Streams" underneath the red Donate button and select the Classical station from the drop-down menu

3 - Click the play button in the grey bar at the top left part of the page, just underneath the KAZU logo. At 4 PM on Sunday, clicking this button will play the Echos of Empire concert.

You can find more information about listening to KAZU broadcasts here, including how to tune in on your HD radio station.