PACIFIC SYMPHONY PARTNERS WITH KCET AND PBS SOCAL TO BROADCAST FOUR FALL EPISODES OF NEW ARTS AND CULTURE SERIES SOUTHLAND SESSIONS PRESENTS

For Release on Sept. 17, 2020

PACIFIC SYMPHONY PARTNERS WITH KCET AND PBS SOCAL
TO BROADCAST FOUR FALL EPISODES OF
NEW ARTS AND CULTURE SERIES
SOUTHLAND SESSIONS PRESENTS

“Opening Night with Pacific Symphony” (Sept. 30 on KCET | Oct. 10 on PBS SoCal)

“Virtual Violin Virtuosos” (Oct. 28 on KCET | Nov. 7 on PBS SoCal)

“A Salute to the Heroes” (Nov. 11 on KCET | Nov. 21 on PBS SoCal)

“Beethoven @ 250” (Dec. 16 on KCET | Dec. 26 on PBS SoCal)

Orange County, Calif.—Sept. 17, 2020—Pacific Symphony announced today a broadcast partnership with KCET and PBS SoCal for the upcoming airing of four programs as part of its new weekly arts and culture series “Southland Sessions.” Pacific Symphony is pleased to be featured on this new series, which showcases the vibrancy and resilience of creators across Southern California during the pandemic, featuring everything from drive-thru art exhibitions to Chicano comedies and underground DJ sets. Pacific Symphony concerts to be featured include “Opening Night with Pacific Symphony”; “Virtual Violin Virtuosos”; “A Salute to the Heroes”; and “Beethoven @ 250.”

Due to the uncertainty caused by coronavirus, Pacific Symphony is postponing the originally scheduled 2020-21 season at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall to the 2021-22 season. Music Director Carl St.Clair has pivoted in his creative thinking to reimagine programming for the current season, keeping in mind current health regulations. Southland Sessions Presents Pacific Symphony is the first reimagined programming to be announced for this season.

“As Pacific Symphony has focused on alternate, reimagined programming for the 20-21 season, we are pleased to partner with KCET and PBS SoCal on the innovative Southland Sessions series,” comments Pacific Symphony President and CEO John Forsyte. “For the four programs, the orchestra is opening its vaults of recorded concerts. Each concert will feature the Symphony in replays of masterworks from the archives and newly recorded original performances, as well as artist and conductor interviews. And our Music Director, Carl St.Clair, will be the host for all four episodes.”

Episode 1: “Opening Night with Pacific Symphony”
KCET broadcast: Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. | PBS SoCal broadcast: Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.
Following in the tradition of past season openers, Pacific Symphony’s virtual “Opening Night” is reconceptualized for the uncommon era in which we find ourselves. The program—a virtual piano extravaganza—will be offered in an innovative way, featuring five internationally renowned piano soloists in their home studios around the world: Olga Kern, Louis Lortie, André Watts, and piano duo Christina and Michelle Naughton. The program features 19th and 20th century masterworks by Beethoven, Dvořák, Rachmaninoff and Ravel.

Episode 2: “Virtual Violin Virtuosos”
KCET broadcast: Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. | PBS SoCal broadcast: Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.
Enjoy a trio of world-class violinists in their home studios. Favorite virtuosos Anne Akiko Meyers and Philippe Quint join Pacific Symphony’s Concertmaster Dennis Kim in “Virtual Violin Virtuosos.” Two Baroque masterworks highlight the program: Akiko Meyers and Kim are the soloists in Bach’s Double Violin Concerto, and Quint performs “Winter” from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.”

Episode 3: “A Salute to the Heroes”
KCET broadcast: Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. | PBS SoCal broadcast: Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.
Carl St.Clair and Pacific Symphony offer a touching tribute honoring veterans, healthcare workers, armed service members and first responders in “A Salute to the Heroes.” Program highlights include Beethoven, Barber, Copland and additional works to be announced.

Episode 4: “Beethoven @ 250”
KCET broadcast: Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. | PBS SoCal broadcast date: Dec. 26 at 7 p.m.
Despite a global pandemic, classical music’s birthday boy will not be denied. Carl St.Clair and Pacific Symphony celebrate the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth. The culmination of this program will be the composer’s great work to humanity, Symphony No. 9, in an archival recording of the orchestra’s 2012 Plazacast at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

For more information, visit PacificSymphony.org/SouthlandSessions or kcet.org/southlandsessions.

CALENDAR LISTINGS

“OPENING NIGHT WITH PACIFIC SYMPHONY”

KCET broadcast: Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. | PBS SoCal broadcast: Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.

Carl St.Clair, conductor

Olga Kern, piano

Louis Lortie, piano

Christina and Michelle Naughton, piano duo

André Watts, piano

Dvořák: Carnival Overture

Schoenfeld: “Boogie” for Two Pianos

            (Christina and Michelle Naughton)

Ravel: “Rigaudon” from “Le Tombeau de Couperin”

Beethoven: “Adagio sostenuto” from “Moonlight” Sonata

            (Louis Lortie)

Beethoven: “Allegro con brio” from Symphony No. 5

Beethoven: “Andante con moto” from Piano Concerto No. 4

(André Watts)

Rachmaninoff: Moment Musical No. 4, E Minor

            (Olga Kern)

Rachmaninoff: Variation 18, “Andante cantabile" from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

            (Olga Kern)

VIRTUAL VIOLIN VIRTUOSOS

KCET broadcast: Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. | PBS SoCal broadcast: Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.

Carl St.Clair, conductor

Anne Akiko Meyers, violin

Philippe Quint, violin

Dennis Kim, violin

Bach: Concerto for Two Violins, D Minor

            (Anne Akiko Meyers and Dennis Kim)

Mozart: Serenata Notturna

Vivaldi: “Winter” from Four Seasons

(Philippe Quint)

Tchaikovsky: Finale from Serenade for Strings, Op. 48

Walker: Lyric for Strings

Lauridsen: “O Magnum Mysterium”

            (Anne Akiko Meyers)

A SALUTE TO THE HEROES

KCET Broadcast: Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. | PBS SoCal broadcast: Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.

Carl St.Clair, conductor

Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man

Beethoven: “Allegretto” from Symphony No. 7

Barber: Adagio for Strings
Additional works by John Williams and others to be announced

BEETHOVEN @ 250

KCET broadcast: Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. | PBS SoCal broadcast: Dec. 26 at 7 p.m.

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (from the 2012 Plazacast at Segerstrom Center for the Arts)
Additional works to be announced

About Pacific Symphony
Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair since 1990, has been the resident orchestra of Orange County’s Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall since 2006. Currently in its 42nd season, the Symphony is the largest orchestra formed in the U.S. in the last 50 years and is recognized as an outstanding ensemble making strides on both the national and international scenes, as well as in its own community of Orange County. In April 2018, Pacific Symphony made its debut at Carnegie Hall as one of two orchestras invited to perform during a yearlong celebration of composer Philip Glass’ 80th birthday, and the following month the orchestra toured China. The orchestra made its national PBS debut in June 2018 on Great Performances with Peter Boyer’s “Ellis Island: The Dream of America,” conducted by St.Clair. Pacific Symphony presents more than 100 concerts and events each year and a rich array of education and community engagement programs, reaching more than 300,000 residents of all ages.

Under Carl St.Clair, who enters his fourth decade as music director, Pacific Symphony has achieved new heights of musical excellence while also diversifying its programming and expanding its community engagement activities. Through commissions, premieres, and recordings, the orchestra has become a champion of contemporary American music, with a discography devoted almost entirely to 20th- and 21st-century music by American composers, including William Bolcom, John Corigliano, Richard Danielpour, Michael Daugherty and Philip Glass. The orchestra has recorded for Harmonia Mundi, Naxos, Koch International Classics, Reference Recordings, and Sony Classical, among other labels.

Pacific Symphony has been recognized with multiple ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and included among the country’s five most innovative orchestras by the League of American Orchestras. The Symphony’s education and community engagement activities have also been recognized by the League, as well as the National Endowment for the Arts. These initiatives include community and youth concerts and ensembles, interactive events, masterclasses with guest artists, and classroom and summer programs for children.

ABOUT PBS SOCAL AND KCET
PBS SoCal and KCET are both part of the donor-supported community institution, the Public Media Group of Southern California, which was formed by the merger of PBS SoCal and KCETLink Media Group. PBS SoCal is the flagship PBS station for 19 million diverse people across California and delivers content and experiences that inspire, inform and entertain – over the air, online, in the community and in the classroom. PBS SoCal offers the full slate of beloved PBS programs including MASTERPIECE, NOVA, PBS NewsHour, FRONTLINE, and a broad library of documentary films including works from Ken Burns; as well as educational content including PBS KIDS programs including DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD and CURIOUS GEORGE. Programs are accessible for free through four broadcast channels, and available for streaming at pbssocal.org, on the PBS mobile apps, and via connected TV services Android TV, Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

KCET is on-air, online and in the community, and plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. Throughout its 55-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. For additional information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org. Select original programming from KCET is also available for streaming on Apple TV, YouTube, Amazon and Roku platforms. For more information please visit kcet.org/apps.

# # #

Press Contacts:

Pacific Symphony | Jean Oelrich, Director of Marketing and Communications joelrich@pacificsymphony.org | o: (714) 876-2380 | c: (714) 458-9023

Pacific Symphony | Alexey Bonca, Public Relations & Social Media Manager abonca@pacificsymphony.org | o: (714) 876-2380 | c: (714) 458-9023

KCET | JP Shields, Senior Director of Communications & Publicity

jpshields@kcet.org | jpshields@pmgsocal.org | (747) 201-5886