HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
- A Grand Season Opening — With more than 100 singers from Santa Barbara-based choruses joining the orchestra on stage, the season opens with the epic Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9—an Ode to Joy and to the community!
- Exceptional Guest Artists — This Season has a record-breaking number of guest artists (23), including 8 vocal soloists, 4 choral groups, 2 trios, and 2 guest conductors! The high-energy, Grammy®-winning, string trio Time for Three performs Contact, by acclaimed American composer Kevin Puts; international superstar David Krakauer dazzles in Marhulets’ Concerto for Klezmer Clarinet; and the great Marcus Roberts Trio truly innovates on Roberts’ Rhapsody in D.
- Community Collaborations — Collaborations on and off stage continue this season including Jazz at The Lobero series, the Granada’s Synergy Series, the statewide California Festival, Opera Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Choral Society, SBCC Quire of Voyces, Westmont College Choir, Santa Barbara Gay Men’s Chorus and more.
- Classical Music & Big Screen Favorites — Classical music highlights include Mozart, Mahler, Dvořák, Beethoven, and Ravel; and The Symphony honors outstanding women in February with rising star violinist Sirena Huang, and a work by pioneering French composer Louise Farrenc. A program of Oscar® film scenes with live orchestra accompaniment is guaranteed to be a highlight.
The Santa Barbara Symphony announces its 2023/24 season, continuing a musical legacy focused on the transformative power of music. Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti, now in his 18th season with the Santa Barbara Symphony, has curated an expansive eight-month-long musical journey that spotlights local, national, and international talent, as well as community, collaboration, and classical traditions. (View the entire concert season here.)
“Each concert aims to inspire audiences and create moments of awe, connection, and joy,” shared Kabaretti. “It’s an exciting time for me as an artistic director and for our musicians, as traditional symphonic music is inspired and influenced by diverse cultures, and an expansive range of contemporary musical genres. This season we traverse jazz, pop, opera, film scores, and more while celebrating classical favorites. I can’t wait to share this journey – and our extraordinary musicians with you!”
“With generous support from the community, The Symphony invests in high caliber professional orchestral musicians, guest artists, and faculty to create concerts and youth education programs that are unique to Santa Barbara and foster a sense of togetherness,“ said Kathryn R Martin, President, and CEO of the Santa Barbara Symphony. “The Symphony is for everyone, and the new season offers us an unprecedented opportunity to continue to attract classical music aficionados as well as music lovers of all genres.”
This season, the Symphony is participating in the California Festival: A Celebration of New Music, a two-week statewide festival inaugurated by the music directors of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (Gustavo Dudamel), the San Francisco Symphony (Esa-Pekka Salonen) and the San Diego Symphony (Rafael Payare) that includes more than 50 organizations and ensembles who will highlight many of today’s most compelling and forward-looking composers. Additional highlights include genre-defying guest performers, a celebration of Oscar® film favorites, and creative artistic collaborations with Opera Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Choral Society, SBCC Quire of Voyces, Westmont College Choir, and members of the Santa Barbara Gay Men’s Chorus.
As a professional artistic resource to the community, audiences will also hear the Santa Barbara Symphony, conducted by Maestro Kabaretti outside of its normal season line-up providing live orchestral accompaniment to the State Street Ballet’s Giselle and a tribute concert to Van Morrison with the local rock band the Doublewide Kings.
Experience the Symphony’s 2023-24 season! All performances will take place at the Granada Theatre. Season subscriptions are on sale now with packages starting as low as $112 for a four-concert package, and $184 for a full seven-concert package – that gets you Beethoven 9 for FREE! Single tickets go on sale on September 1, 2023. For subscriptions and ticket information visit www.TheSymphony.org or call 805-898-9386.
