San Bernardino Symphony Season Offers Tasty Programming and an Open Door to All Ages

Although the San Bernardino Symphony has long been known for performing more than just the standard classical fare, Maestro Frank Fetta and the Symphony’s Artistic Committee have created their 87th season with an ever wider menu of beautiful orchestral music. Themed “Orchestral Accents: Celebrating the Diverse Flavors of Symphonic Music,” the season will guide audiences through a veritable banquet of selections sure to delight most every musical palate. “Our goal is to pay homage to composers whose work evokes emotion… joy, sorrow, introspection, pride, love… we want people to realize orchestral music is foundational to the classics, but not limited to them,” said Maestro Frank Paul Fetta who is preparing to begin his third season as the Symphony’s Music Director and Conductor. “We hope the audience will recognize the concept of musical flavors as more than clever marketing,” quipped the Maestro, “You may love a certain food, but you need a variety of foods to stay healthy. The same can be said for music. If you enjoy a healthy diet containing a variety of music and you will surely live a healthier life!” The first course is served October 3 with “Mosaico Latino” featuring renowned violinist Will Hagen, a recent top finisher in the Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition. Widely known as possessing a talent that belies his 22 years, Hagen will play Edward Lalo’s spicy “Symphonie Espagnol.” Also at that concert, Mateo Oliva’s “Mosaico Suite,” Mozart Camargo Guarnieri’s “Danza Brasiliera,” and Rodrigo de Ceballos’s “Suite de Lara.” Operatic tenor Gustavo Hernandez Garcia who audiences may remember from the Symphony’s recent performance in Perris Hill Park and the Redlands Bowl, will also share his remarkable vocal range at this concert. A special addition to the October playbill is the Mariachi Youth Academy, part of Sinfonia Mexicana, a San Bernardino Symphony offshoot which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. “We wanted to celebrate this special anniversary in a particularly meaningful way,” said Symphony Board President and former San Bernardino Mayor Dr. Judith Valles. “Although we are no longer officially connected organizations, the Symphony and Sinfonia Mexicana share a common goal to promote the arts and music in our community.” Dec. 12, the Symphony will present their second annual “Home for the Holidays” concert, this year including selections from Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Berlin, Leontovych, Williams, and Regney and Baker. Like the inaugural holiday concert which included carolers and a finale shower of snow, this special evening will also hold some exciting surprises. “We’ve essentially designed a trip around the world for lovers of seasonal music,” said Maestro Fetta. “There is something for everyone and we hope, as occurred last year, there will be many, many families in attendance.” In fact, families are always welcome at the Symphony. “People think children won’t like the orchestra, or they will get bored, or they won’t know how to behave, but that is in no way the case,” said Symphony Executive Director Dr. Anne Viricel. “If you watch the mesmerized expression on the face of a child experiencing their orchestral first concert, you will see the blossoming of a love of art and culture that is possible in few other media. It is an extremely fortunate child whose parents or grandparents share this gift with them.” On Feb. 6, the Symphony will perform their first all-patriotic concert, “Echoes of America.” Inclusive of music from Grofe’s “Grand Canyon Suite,” Rodgers and Bennett’s “Victory at Sea,” Still’s “The American Scene,” and several stirring Sousa marches from the Symphony’s extensive Guthrie Music Library, this concert is dedicated to the many veterans who reside in the Inland Empire. February 5, two one-hour versions of this concert will also be performed back to back at no charge for the local schools as part of the Symphony’s award-winning student enrichment program. Said Viricel, “Our colleagues at the districts asked for a concert that was supportive of the students’ course of studies. ‘Echoes of America’ gives a musical voice to the concept of patriotism, both supporting and broadening what students are learning in history and social studies classes.” As in years past, the Symphony will provide participating schools with corresponding level-specific teaching materials developed in line with California’s Common Core Standards. Both the December and February concerts are sponsored by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. March 25, the Symphony will present “Masterwork Melange,” a buffet of both whimsical and sublime selections featuring Humperdink’s "Hansel and Gretel Overture," Shostakovich ‘s "Symphony No. 3,” and Rachmaninoff’s "Piano Concerto No. 2" as interpreted by gifted young pianist Rufus Choi. A recent addition to the distinguished roster of Steinway artists, Choi has performed worldwide and his recent debut album, A Musical Journey, was released to critical acclaim. Wrapping this delicious year will be “Finale Bravura!” on May 28. The concert will include Mozart’s "Magic Flute Overture,” Tchaikovsky’s "Rococo Variation,” Popper’s "Hungarian Rhapsody,” and Dvorak’s "Symphony No. 8.” Charismatic cellist Ruslan Biryukov will perform. A talent characterized as “stunning” by Wendy Kikkert of the Beverly Hills Outlook, Biryukov returns to the Symphony by popular demand. “As you see,” added Maestro Fetta, “We have selected all young featured performers to join us this season. We tend to forget that most of the great composers wrote their most well-known works under age 30. But these outstanding young professionals are all under that age and their contributions to the world of music are already notable. We hope everyone will come and experience the quality of symphonic music available right here in the Inland Empire.” All regular season concerts will be performed 7:30 p.m. at the historic California Theatre, 562 W. 4th Street, San Bernardino. A pre-concert lecture, free with your paid ticket, begins at 6:30 p.m. in the concert hall. This year, the Symphony is offering both three- and five-concert season tickets, available by calling 909-381-5388, on line at www.sanbernardinosymphony.org, or by visiting the Symphony box office at 198 N. Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission tickets are also available and with limited availability at the theater box office the evening of each event. Student tickets are always just $10. In addition to the regular concert season, this year, the San Bernardino Symphony will also be featured in concerts throughout the region. Visit their website for more information.