Music to Our Ears

Supporters of the Santa Barbara Symphony, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary, had to face the music at the historic Lobero Theatre when veteran maestro Nir Kabaretti outlined the season’s nine programs in the next nine months, kicking off with Carmina Burana in collaboration with the State Street Ballet at the Granada in October.

Local composer Cody Westheimer will have the world premiere of Wisdom of the Sky, Water, Earth, with pianist Alessio Bax in November with Plains, Trains, and Violins in the New Year with the world premiere of the “Toccata for Toy Trains” concert suite by the late Oscar-winning Santa Barbara composer Elmer Bernstein finessed by his son, Peter Bernstein. Guillermo Figueroa is violinist.

February brings Transformation with legendary saxophonist Ted Nash playing another world premiere with pianist Natasha Kislenko. Ravel’s “Bolero” is also on the program.

John Williams: A Cinematic Celebration with works from the five-time Oscar winner and 12-time Grammy Award recipient accompanying powerful cinematic moments is scheduled for March. Rei Hotoda will be guest conductor.

In a collaboration with the Ensemble Theatre Company, Beethoven Dreams is scheduled for April, with the West Coast premiere of The Eternal Stranger based on a dream by the composer, and in May, Platinum Sounds marks the symphony’s seven decades.

The specially extended season, sponsored by Roger and Sarah Chrisman, wraps in June with An Evening With Frank Sinatra featuring all the legendary crooner’s favorites with singer-pianist Tony DeSare.

Afterwards, a boffo bash was thrown in front of the historic theater with guests including Nancy Golden, Barbara Burger, Marylove Thralls, Robert Weinman, Dan and Meg Burnham, Eduardo Villa, Marilyn Gilbert, Jonathan Fox, Leila Drake Fossek, and symphony president Kathryn Martin.