California Symphony and Music Director Donato Cabrera to Open Season with 'Passport to the World', 9/20

The California Symphony and Music Director Donato Cabrera open their 2015-16 seasonSunday, September 20 at 4 pm at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek with "Passport to the World," a musical tour of work by composers including Dvo?ák, Rimsky-Korsakov, Grieg, Debussy, Elgar, Falla, Vaughan Williams, Glière, and Sibelius' Karelia Suite andFinlandia, on the anniversary of the great Finnish composer's death. Following the concert, the orchestra and Cabrera welcome the audience to mingle with the artists at a special Opening Night Party, a benefit reception (Opening Night Party tickets sold separately).

"The idea is that it will be like watching a movie - you buy a ticket, the lights dim, and you're transported to another place," said Cabrera, who will introduce the music and its global origins between compositions. In addition to the Sibelius works, the program includes well-known orchestral music by Vaughan Williams (Fantasia on "Greensleeves") Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance, and Debussy's Clair de Lune, as well as Rimsky-Korsakov's Procession of the Nobles, Glière's Dance of Russian Sailors, Dvo?ák's Slavonic Dances, Falla's Ritual Fire Dance, Debussy's Girl with the Flaxen Hair and Grieg's The Last Spring.

The orchestra is entering its third season with Cabrera, and is expanding its regional base in Northern California, performing concerts in three new venues. The orchestra, based in Walnut Creek, will perform at its home at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center's Lincoln Theater in Yountville, and at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, as well as a recent performance with Postmodern Jukebox at the Kaiser Center Roof Garden in Oakland. The orchestra is focused on American repertoire, nurturing new American composers as part of its Young American Composer in Residence program, and bringing music to people in new and unconventional settings as well as performing the most revered core classical repertoire.

In May 2016, the orchestra and guitarist Jason Vieaux perform the world premiere of the orchestra's new concerto commission by Dan Visconti, current Young American Composer in Residence, in concert in Walnut Creek and Yountville. Other season highlights include an American Roots program with pianist Charlie Albright performing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, a showcase of two California Symphony principal musicians in a little-heard R. Strauss double concerto, performances of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and Brahms' Symphony No. 2, and holiday music with Pacific Boychoir, in Walnut Creek and Yountville.

Individual tickets to "Passport to the World" on September 20 are $42-$72, and go on sale Friday, August 21 atwww.californiasymphony.org. All other individual 2015-16 California Symphony concerts are also on sale August 21. Tickets for the Opening Night Party following the September 20 concert are $75 (all proceeds benefit the California Symphony; $50 of ticket price is tax-deductible).Subscription ticket package prices range from $168 to $288 for the California Symphony's 2015-16 season and are on sale now to renewing subscribers and the general public. Tickets can be purchased through the California Symphony's website at www.californiasymphony.organd at 925-280-2490.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA SYMPHONY

The only all-professional orchestra in Contra Costa County, the California Symphony is distinguished for its concert programs that combine classics alongside lesser-known works, for its pioneering Young American Composer in Residence program, and for its nationally recognized education programs. The orchestra is comprised of musicians who have performed with the orchestras of the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet, and others. California Symphony has launched the careers of some of today's most-performed composers and soloists, including violinist Sarah Chang, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, and composers such as Mason Bates, Christopher Theofanidis, and Kevin Puts.

Music Director Donato Cabrera joined the California Symphony in 2013. He has been the Resident Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) and the Wattis Foundation Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (SFSYO) since 2009. In 2014, Cabrera was appointed Music Director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2013 he became Music Director of the New Hampshire Music Festival.

CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

Sunday, September 20 at 4 pm

Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek

Opening Night, California Symphony's 2015-16 Season

Passport to the World

Donato Cabrera, conductor

California Symphony

PROGRAM:

Rimsky-Korsakov - Procession of the Nobles

Glière - Dance of Russian Sailors

Dvo?ák - Slavonic Dances Op. 72, No. 2 in E minor

Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on "Greensleeves"

Elgar - Pomp and Circumstance No. 1

Falla - Ritual Fire Dance

Debussy - Girl with the Flaxen Hair

Debussy - Clair de Lune

Sibelius - Karelia Suite, Op. 11, No. 1 (Intermezzo)

Grieg - The Last Spring, Op. 34, No. 2

Sibelius - Finlandia

Immediately following the Opening Night performance, at 6 pm, the musicians of the California Symphony invite concertgoers to celebrate the new season. Opening Night Party ticket ($75; sold separately) includes wine and hors d'oeuvres and the rare opportunity to meet and mingle with Music Director Donato Cabrera and California Symphony musicians.

TICKETS: Individual tickets to "Passport to the World" are $42-$72, and go on sale August 21 at www.californiasymphony.org. All other individual 2015-16 California Symphony concerts are also on sale August 21. Tickets for the September 20 Opening Night Party are $75 and are available at www.californiasymphony.org (all proceeds benefit the California Symphony; $50 of ticket price is tax-deductible). Subscription ticket packages for the 2015-16 season range from $168-$288 and are available at www.californiasymphony.org.

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