Like almost all arts organizations dedicated to performance in this difficult time, the Santa Barbara Symphony has had to go back to the drawing board to plan its 2020-21 season. Not surprisingly, it has done a spectacularly good job of it.
The symphony has, as they put it, had to “re-imagine” the season as a series of streaming virtual events, all curated and introduced by the band’s genial maestro, Nir Kabaretti.
“With everything going on in the world right now, we need music more than ever to safely bring us back together,” said the Maestro. “This season you will experience the Symphony like never before.
“It’s a true celebration of our phenomenal local artists along with brilliant shining stars in our performing arts world that will join us to inspire you, and take you on musical experiences none of us could have imagined before a pandemic.
“We are rising to the occasion to continue the music, and bring you a newfound love and appreciation for the symphony, and we cannot wait.”
Asserting, with justifiable pride, that it is “one of the few performing arts organizations in the country committed to creating an innovative path forward,” the symphony has mapped a season of seven programs, launched in a new streaming format, but factoring in the eventual possibility of socially distanced in-person options for audiences, if and when that becomes feasible.
“The 2020-21 season shines a spotlight onto the Santa Barbara Symphony musicians and local artistic treasures, and includes masterpieces by Gershwin, Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, Mozart, Copland, and composers’ pieces the symphony has never presented before, like African American composer George Walker, Joseph Boulogne Chevalier de Saint-Georges, and genres ranging from Baroque to orchestral arrangements of Bluegrass.
Tickets are on sale now for the virtual season, in addition to subscriptions offering savings and new benefits all season long, available online.
“The safety of our staff, musicians and audience is our top priority,” says Kathryn R. Martin, the symphony’s interim CEO. “After months of planning, the Santa Barbara Symphony will bring audiences together in a new way to experience live music.
“From state of the art camera work, backstage interviews, live interactions and even special dinners with local restaurant partners — everything has been designed to enhance our audiences’ experience. As orchestras around the country have gone dark, we are grateful to our supporters and community partners for making this unprecedented season possible.”
The season officially opens at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, when “Cabaret with Kabaretti,” a joint fundraiser with the Granada Theatre, will livestream from the theatre.
Promising a show that is “up close and personal,” the symphony has brought in Broadway star Lisa Vroman to sing from the Great American Songbook in the intimate style of cabaret. Noted actress and singer Leslie Zemeckis will host the event, which features the music of George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, and others.
The new livestream format features performances, interviews, and 360-degree access to our musicians, both onstage and backstage at the Granada Theatre. This event is a joint fundraiser for the symphony and the Granada Theatre.
The symphony has partnered with DUO Catering to prepare a cabaret-inspired dinner and a signature cocktail, available for takeout, for guests to enjoy that evening from home while enjoying the opening night festivities. Tickets, starting as low as $43 per household for season subscriptions. are available by calling 805-898-9386 or online at https://thesymphony.org/concerts-events/subscriptions-tickets/.
— Gerald Carpenter covers the arts as a Noozhawk contributing writer. He can be reached at gerald.carpenter@gmail.com. The opinions expressed are his own.