Past Concerts
Music & Artistic Director Maestro Nir Kabaretti has assembled a spectacular season of diverse talent and repertoires to create a fantastic symphonic journey from classical traditions to genre-defying guest performers to accessible fan favorites, culminating in a Symphony season that is for everyone!
*All programs and artists subject to change.
YOUR SEATS ARE WAITING
Join us for a new season of spectacular performances that bring Maestro Kabaretti’s artistic vision to life.
When you purchase tickets you’re not taking any financial risk. No matter what happens, we’re going to offer you flexibility and choices. In the event that either we are forced to cancel, reschedule, or reimagine a concert or concerts in the 2023/24 season – or if your situation changes and you don’t feel comfortable attending – the Santa Barbara Symphony will offer subscribers and ticket holders options and flexibility. Learn more here about our Ticket Policy.
Past 2024/25 Concerts
BRAHMS’ REQUIEM
Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Magdalena Kuźma, soprano
Daniel Scofield, baritone
Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus
MAHLER Three Rückert-Lieder
BRAHMS A German Requiem
Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Magdalena Kuźma, soprano
Daniel Scofield, baritone
Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus
MAHLER Three Rückert-Lieder
BRAHMS A German Requiem
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Nir Kabaretti, conductor – Storm Large, vocalist
The Hudson Shad Quartet
IBERT Divertissement
STILL Seven Little Pieces from The Black Belt
JESSIE MONTGOMERY Strum
WEILL / BRECHT The Seven Deadly Sins
Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Nir Kabaretti, conductor – Storm Large, vocalist
The Hudson Shad Quartet
IBERT Divertissement
STILL Seven Little Pieces from The Black Belt
JESSIE MONTGOMERY Strum
WEILL / BRECHT The Seven Deadly Sins
VALENTINE’S WEEKEND
CHAPLIN’S MASTERPIECE @ 100
THE GOLD RUSH
Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 16, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Lucas Richman, guest conductor
With Chaplin’s enchanting blend of pantomime and music, his masterwork, “The Gold Rush,” has endured for a century. The Symphony performs Chaplin’s own score LIVE as the movie classic is projected on the big screen! Share the laughs with family, kids, or that special someone on Valentine’s Weekend.
MOZART MARATHON - SAT
Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Nir Kabaretti, conductor – Amy Tatum, flute
Michelle Temple, harp – Jessica Guideri, violin
MOZART Overture to The Impresario
MOZART Concerto For Flute and Harp
MOZART Violin Concerto No. 4 in D
MOZART Symphony No. 35, “Haffner”
MOZART MARATHON - SUN
Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Lara Wickes, oboe
Natasha Kislenko, piano
MOZART Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
MOZART Oboe Concerto
MOZART Symphony in D, K 196 / 121
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, K 488
Guest Maestro and Host Andrew Lipke shares his conductor's baton with his guitar to create symphonic magic!
NEW YEARS EVE WITH THE SYMPHONY
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at 8:30 - 10:00 PM
Andrew Lipke, Guest Conductor & Host
Micaela McCall, Vocalist
Both Saturday and Sunday subscribers will attend this very special performance!
ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY!
FRENCH CONNECTIONS
Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 3:00 PM
David Greilsammer, guest conductor and pianist
RAMEAU Orchestral Suite from Platée
RAVEL Piano Concerto in G
HAYDN Symphony No. 85, “La Reine”
MILHAUD Le Boeuf sur le Toit
OPENING WEEKEND
TCHAIKOVSKY IMMERSION
The Full Story Behind the Fourth Symphony
Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Pablo Sáinz-Villegas, guitar
EMMA LOU DIEMER Homage to Tchaikovsky
RODRIGO Concierto de Aranjuez
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4
Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Pablo Sáinz-Villegas, guitar
EMMA LOU DIEMER Homage to Tchaikovsky
RODRIGO Concierto de Aranjuez
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4
Past 2023/24 Concerts
Rhapsody in Blue @ 100: Jazz Comes to The Symphony
May 18 & 19, 2024
Artist residency in collaboration with The Lobero Theatre
The Artists
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Marcus Roberts Trio
Marcus Roberts, Piano
Roland Guerin, Bass
Jason Marsalis, Drums
Program
George Gershwin | Rhapsody in Blue
Marcus Roberts | Rhapsody in D
Charles Ives | Symphony No. 2
Mahler Meets Klezmer: Titans of Sound
April 20 & 21, 2024
The Artists
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
David Krakauer, Clarinet
Program
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Overture to Abduction from the Seraglio
Wlad Marhulets | Concerto for Klezmer Clarinet
Gustav Mahler | Symphony No. 1 “Titan”
An Oscar® Celebration! Favorite Clips with Live Orchestra
March 16 & 17, 2024
The Artists
Constantine Kitsopoulos, Guest Conductor
In collaboration with the Granada Synergy Series
Program
Experience the glamour and nostalgia of Hollywood’s Golden Age of Oscar®. Relive the memories of iconic movies and their indelible symphonic soundtracks. Classic scenes are presented via the Granada’s giant screen with The Symphony on stage playing live. Featuring music from Gone with the Wind, An American in Paris, The Wizard of Oz, and more.
SPECIAL PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS
February 16, 2024 – TICKETS JUST RELEASED! — The Symphony has just released a limited number of tickets for both the 3 PM and 7:30 PM performances. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the Lobero Box Office. Tickets are $80 and general admission.
February 2, 2024 – VENUE CHANGE — Due to the recent water damage at The Granada Theatre, The Santa Barbara Symphony has moved its two February concerts to the Lobero Theatre—both to be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024—at 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm. The Lobero is located at 33 E. Canon Perdido St. in Santa Barbara.
Serenade for Romance: Valentine's Week
February 17, 2024
The Artists
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Sirena Huang, Violin
Program
Sir Edward Elgar | Serenade for Strings
Antonín Dvořák | Violin Concerto
Ludwig van Beethoven | Symphony No. 7
The Ride of the Valkyries: Opera at The Symphony!
January 20 & 21, 2024
Featuring Opera Santa Barbara Soloists
The Artists
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Karin Wolverton, Soprano
Deborah Nansteel, Mezzo-Soprano
Harold Meers, Tenor
Timothy Mix, Baritone
Anikka Abbott, Emcee
Program
Soloists from Opera Santa Barbara join The Symphony! The most thrilling moments from Grand Opera. By Verdi, Rossini, Puccini, Wagner and others, including Madame Butterfly, Cavalleria Rusticana, and Tosca. Plus, Wagner’s roaring The Ride of the Valkyries. With local TV personality Anikka Abbott, a concert program of deception, romance, and drama unfolds!
New Year's Eve with The Symphony: Timeless Classics - A Celebration of Pop, Rock & Broadway
December 31, 2023
The Artists
Andrew Lipke, Guest Conductor & Host
Christina Maxwell, Singer
Program
Conductor and host Andrew Lipke puts the NEW in our New Year’s Eve tradition as he leads the orchestra in a thematic celebration about the passing of time with a set of pop, rock & Broadway classics that will have you dancing in the aisle and waxing nostalgic. In a festive evening of music, Lipke trades the conductor’s baton for his guitar to create some symphonic surprises! Our traditional salute to the military and Auld Lang Syne sing-along will round out the evening as we all create new memories in time.
Symphonic Spectaculars! Featuring Time for Three
November 18 & 19, 2023
Part of The California Festival: A Celebration of New Music
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Time for Three
Nicolas “Nick” Kendall, Violin and Vocals
Charles Yang, Violin and Vocals
Ranaan Meyer, Double Bass and Vocals
Program
Kevin Puts | Contact
Alexander Borodin | Polovtsian Dances
Georges Bizet | L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2
Maurice Ravel | La Valse
Beethoven 9: An Ode to Joy, Hope & Community
October 14 & 15, 2023
The Artists
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Santa Barbara Choral Society, Jo Anne Wasserman,
Artistic Director & Conductor
Santa Barbara City College Quire of Voyces, Nathan Kreitzer, Music Director
Westmont College Choir,
Daniel Gee, Director of Choral Activities
Adelfos Ensemble, Temmo Korisheli, Artistic Director
Soloists
Johanna Will, Soprano
Christina Pezzarossi Ramsey, Mezzo-Soprano
John Matthew Myers, Tenor
Cedric Berry, Bass-Bariton
Program
Aaron Copland | “The Promise of Living,” from The Tender Land
Franz Liszt | Les Préludes
Ludwig van Beethoven | Symphony No. 9 “Choral”
Past 2022/23 Concerts
An Evening with Sinatra
June 15, 2023
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Tony DeSare, Vocals and Piano
Frank Sinatra was one of a kind — an iconoclast whose musical legacy and style are as enduring as was his charm. Relive the magical moments of ‘40s, ‘50s, ‘60s and beyond as critically acclaimed singer/pianist Tony DeSare takes us on a journey back to a time when swing was king and crooners ruled. Dress to impress and plan for an evening as unforgettable as “ol’ blue eyes” himself!
Platinum Sounds: The Symphony Turns 70
May 13 & 14, 2023
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Philippe Quint, Violin
Jonathon Leshnoff | Concerto Grosso (Commissioned for The Symphony’s 60th Anniversary)
Felix Mendelssohn | Violin Concerto
Johannes Brahms | Symphony No. 1
Beethoven Dreams
April 15 & 16, 2023
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Jonathan Fox, Director
Inna Faliks, Piano
In collaboration with Ensemble Theatre Company
Ella Milch-Sheriff | The Eternal Stranger (based on a dream by Beethoven) – West Coast Premiere
Ludwig van Beethoven | Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Ludwig van Beethoven | Symphony No. 4
John Williams: A Symphonic Celebration
Rei Hotoda, Guest Conductor
March 18 & 19, 2023
Presented in Partnership with The Granada Theatre
“E.T.,” “Star Wars,” ”Jaws” — Five-time Oscar© and 12-time Grammy©-Award winner John Williams has been composing film scores for Hollywood’s blockbusters for more than 50 years. His collaborations with directors Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas, whose movies attained cult status, not least because of his unmistakable music, are legendary. Hear these powerful cinematic moments come to life through the magic of live orchestral performance. This concert is part of the Granada Synergy Series.
Transformation
February 18 & 19, 2023
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Natasha Kislenko, Piano
Ted Nash, Saxophone Josh Nelson Trio
Ernst Von Dohnanyi | Variations on a Nursery Song, Op. 25
Ted Nash | Transformation – World Premiere
Richard Strauss | Death and Transfiguration
Maurice Ravel | Bolero
Plains, Trains & Violins
January 21 & 22, 2023
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Guillermo Figueroa, Violin
Elmer Bernstein, arr. Peter Bernstein | Toccata For Toy Trains concert suite — Concert World Premiere
Miguel Del Águila | Concerto for Violin El viaje de una vida
Antonín Dvorak | Symphony No. 9 “from the New World”
New Year’s Eve with The Symphony
December 31, 2022
Bob Bernhardt, Guest Conductor
Mela Dailey, Soprano
Few events evoke as many emotional, nostalgic and visceral responses as New Year’s Eve with The Symphony. Fan favorite Bob Bernhardt returns to guest conduct a rousing program of glitz, glamour and symphonic joy. This program sells out quickly; reserve your seats early!
Wisdom of the Water, Earth, Sky
November 19 & 20, 2022
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Alessio Bax, Piano
Cody Westheimer | Wisdom of the Water, Earth, Sky – World Premiere
Robert Schumann | Piano Concerto in A minor
Jean Sibelius | Valse Triste
W. A. Mozart | Symphony No. 40 in G minor
Carmina Burana — Song, Dance, & Symphony
October 15 & 16, 2022
In collaboration with State Street Ballet and The Granada Theatre
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
State Street Ballet, William Soleau, Choreographer
SB Choral Society, Jo Anne Wasserman, Director
Quire of Voyces, Nathan Kreitzer, Director
Music Academy’s Sing! children’s chorus, Erin McKibben, Director
Gabriel Fauré | Pavane featuring State Street Ballet in a ballet choreographed by SSB Resident Choreographer, William Soleau
Camille Saint Saëns | Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah
Carl Orff | Carmina Burana
A SAFE RETURN TO THE GRANADA THEATRE
Our top priority remains the health and safety of our patrons, staff and musicians. The Granada Theatre continues to create comprehensive safety protocols that meet changing government guidelines and ensure the comfort of audiences.
Throughout the season, we anticipate evolving guidelines which may impact policies on mask wearing, proof of vaccination, low-touch ticketing, concessions, and more
- Read our 2022/23 Subscription and Ticket Policy which offers security to our patrons as you consider returning to join us for live performances, and ensure that as a subscriber you receive priority to reserve the best seats.
Watch our 2024/2025 Season Preview Video
If you missed the live event, don’t worry! You can now watch the Santa Barbara Symphony’s 2024/25 Season Preview and catch all the excitement. Enjoy an engaging program filled with music, conversation, and insights from Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti as he unveils the inspirations behind this incredible season. Featuring live performances by Principal musicians and special guest artist interviews, this video is your chance to experience the highlights of what’s ahead for the Symphony’s 72nd season. Don’t miss it!
