The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra has unveiled its 96th performance season, one full of energy, glitter and something for everyone.
“We have struck the perfect balance between the cornerstone orchestral music we have long been known for and the pops programs our community has reacted so positively to in recent years,” explained symphony Music Director and Conductor Anthony Parnther. “Our orchestra celebrates music of every genre, and I am particularly excited to see how they will react to the variety of offerings planned for this year.”
The season begins on March 22 with a matinee performance of “Storm and Seduction: Reformation vs. Carmen,” a creative juxtaposition of two romantic/classical canon favorites. In the first half, Maestro Parnther will lead the orchestra in Felix Mendelssohn’s powerful and evocative Fifth Symphony in D minor, known as the “Reformation” symphony. In the concert’s second half, Parnther will welcome to the stage noted vocalists Maria Dominique Lopez, Orson Van Gay and Jose Luis Maldonado for electrifying selections from Georges Bizet’s beloved opera, Carmen.
On Mother’s Day weekend the symphony will present an ensemble concert featuring world-renowned cellist John Walz, violinist Roger Wilkie and pianist Edith Orloff, who, together, make up the Pacific Trio. Described as “one of the best” and possessing “a winning combination of grandeur, intensity and lyric grace” by the Los Angeles Times, their dynamic presentation of works by Bernstein and Gershwin is scheduled for Saturday, May 10 at 3 p.m. in the San Bernardino Valley College Auditorium.
The music will move to an outdoor setting on July 5 with what has grown to become a true regional tradition: the symphony’s annual “America, The Beautiful” concert on the San Bernardino Valley College football field. This year’s theme is “Dancin’ to the 80s.” In honor of the decade of big hair, neon colors and power suits, the evening is designed to be an exuberant party for all ages with plenty of musical surprises, as well as food trucks, vendors, a kids’ area and more. It is all part of the college’s annual Summerfest event which begins two hours before the concert’s 7:30 p.m. start. As audiences have come to expect, the evening will culminate with a fireworks show as the orchestra performs Tchaikovsky’s bombastic 1812 Overture.
Moving into the fall, the symphony will present another curated ensemble event featuring regional favorites, the Josh Nelson Jazz Ensemble. Notable jazz journalist Gary Fukushima describes Nelson as possessing “crystal clarity and execution of original ideas that seem to spontaneously metamorphose in his mind an instant before they are channeled through his piano.” Nelson, along with vocal and instrumental colleagues, will present a creative mélange of standards and new works on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. in the San Bernardino Valley College Auditorium.
The symphony season concludes with another Inland Empire tradition: a Christmas festival on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 3 p.m. at the California Theatre of the Performing Arts. This annual variety performance spotlights traditional holiday fare alongside new seasonal music punctuated with the talents of local choirs, dance troupes and so much more. This event culminates in a community singing of holiday favorites where the audience joins with the performers to vocally celebrate the uniting spirit of the season.
The symphony’s annual gala is scheduled for Sunday, March 23, at the Barbara and Art Culver Center. In addition, there will be two performances by the region’s only full year-round youth orchestra, the San Bernardino Youth Symphony Orchestra, scheduled for May and December.
“Yes, we do perform all year,” said Parnther. “This is something we started post-pandemic, and it is absolutely by design because our region deserves access to exciting music during more than just the typical September through spring season. There’s a literal buzz of excitement around this season, and I invite our community to unite with the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra in our movement to bring much-needed artistic recognition and joy to the Inland Empire.”
Season tickets are available at sanbernardinosymphony.org. Single concert tickets are also available and may also be purchased online. Patrons may also call the symphony office at (909) 381-5388, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Doors always open one hour prior to concert time. The California Theatre of the Performing Arts is located at 562 Fourth Street in downtown San Bernardino and San Bernardino Valley College is located at 701 S. Mt. Vernon Avenue. Free, lighted parking is available directly adjacent to both concert venues.
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