John Williams & More!
HOLLYWOOD VALENTINE!
John Williams & More!
STAR WARS @ 50
Saturday, February 13, 2027 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 14, 2027 | 3:00 PM
The Granada Theatre
Concert Duration: Approximately 100 minutes (including intermission)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Saturday Pre-Concert Chat | 6:30-7:00 PM
Sunday Pre-Concert Chat | 2:00-2:30 PM
Program Notes & Digital Program
Coming in February
The lights dim. The first note sounds. Suddenly, you’re a kid again, remembering “galaxy’s far, far away”. Share the music that scored your life with your favorite Valentine. The heart-stopping fanfare of Star Wars at 50. The aching violin of Schindler’s List. Howard Shore’s epic The Lord of the Rings. Plus Lincoln, The Terminal, and more, featuring members of the orchestra in virtuoso solos.
The Artists
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Repertoire
Coming soon.
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Nir Kabaretti is a passionate advocate for the universal power of music and believes it can unite, inspire, and enrich lives. Praised by Maestro Zubin Mehta for being “a conductor with immense musicality and warm personality,” Kabaretti is a versatile conductor who expertly leads orchestras, opera houses, and ballet companies around the world. With a profound understanding of music and a commanding stage presence, he engages both performers and audiences, continually striving to create experiences that go beyond traditional boundaries.
Read more about Nir Kabaretti
Born in Israel, Kabaretti began his musical journey at the age of six with piano lessons. What started as a childhood hobby quickly evolved into a lifelong passion. Upon his graduation from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna he dove straight into the heart of the musical world, stepping into the position of pianist and chorus master at the iconic Vienna State Opera and the renowned Salzburg Festival. These early experiences led him to appointments as assistant to the music director at the Teatro Real in Madrid, and personal assistant to the legendary Maestro Zubin Mehta at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale in Florence, Italy.
During this formative period, Kabaretti was privileged to collaborate with some of the most iconic and revered conductors of the time, including Claudio Abbado, Lorin Maazel, Seiji Ozawa, Valery Gergiev, and Riccardo Muti.
As a guest conductor, Kabaretti worked with over 100 orchestras and opera houses, maintaining a vibrant international schedule. His engagements have included appearances with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra del Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Filarmónica de Buenos Aires, Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotà, Orchestre National du Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne. His operatic and ballet experience includes productions at the Royal Swedish Opera, La Scala di Milano, The Israeli Opera, Puccini Festival, Avenches Opéra Festival, Opéra de Lausanne and the New National Theatre in Tokyo. In 2005, Kabaretti led Teatro San Carlo di Napoli on its first tour to Japan.
Nir Kabaretti has collaborated with distinguished musicians such as Lang Lang, Plácido Domingo, Joyce DiDonato, Vadim Repin, Hélène Grimaud, Lynn Harrell and André Watts.
His latest recording, War Silence, featuring four rare Italian piano concertos with pianist Roberto Prosseda and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, was released by Hyperion in 2025 and has received widespread critical acclaim.
Nir Kabaretti resides with his family in Santa Barbara
Nir Kabaretti
is The Santa Barbara Symphony's world-renowned Music & Artistic Director
Nir Kabaretti has worked with some of the world’s most sought-after musicians. Some of his most well-known collaborators include Lang Lang, Placido Domingo, Joyce Di Donato, Angel Joy Blue, Vadim Repin, Gilles Apap, Hélène Grimaud, and André Watts.
Nir Kabaretti
is The Santa Barbara Symphony's World-Renowned Music & Artistic Director
Nir Kabaretti has worked with some of the world’s most sought-after musicians. Some of his most well-known collaborators include Lang Lang, Placido Domingo, Joyce Di Donato, Angel Joy Blue, Vadim Repin, Gilles Apap, Hélène Grimaud, and André Watts.
A very warm and special thank you
to our 2026/27 season donors and the sponsors making
this event possible!
Sponsors
Principal Sponsor
Montecito Bank & Trust
Artist Sponsor
Ann Jackson Family Foundation
Stage Sponsor
Davis Fansler
Selection Sponsors
Janet A. Garufis
Steve Lyons
Kathleen Weber
All program and concert dates are subject to change. Check our website for regular updates and read our Subscription and Ticket policy for more information.