The Santa Barbara Symphony opens its 2024-25 season in concerts this Saturday and Sunday with a “Tchaikovsky Immersion” in which Music and Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti introduces "Symphony No. 4" with remarks and insights from the podium.
The Santa Barbara Symphony opens its 2024-25 season in concerts this Saturday and Sunday with a “Tchaikovsky Immersion” in which Music and Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti introduces "Symphony No. 4" with remarks and insights from the podium. Credit: Santa Barbara Symphony photo

The first surprise is that the Santa Barbara Symphony’s music and artistic director is wearing a Hawaiian shirt. It isn’t that Nir Kabaretti is expected to don conducting attire for a Zoom interview, but it’s a vibrant, cheerful print.

His mentor, maestro Zubin Metha, describes him as “a conductor with immense musicality and warm personality,” which shine through in person as well as on the podium.

Kabaretti is informal yet energized, and is more than happy to reveal the surprises and innovations in the upcoming season.

The symphony’s season is set to open with “Tchaikovsky Immersion” at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Granada Theatre. Seven-concert full tickets, four-concert “create your own” packages and single tickets are available at thesymphony.org.

“Tchaikovsky poured his soul into his symphonies,” said Kabaretti, who unravels the soul-searching of “Symphony No. 4” in a pleasant surprise — a pre-performance talk from the podium following intermission.

He reveals the meanings behind the melodies, and the context of their creation, including a “mystery woman” who supported the composer after his very brief, disastrous marriage.

Kabaretti also leads the pre-concert chats for Sunday ticketholders for the programs he conducts this season.

Nir Kabaretti celebrates his 18th season with the Santa Barbara Symphony this year and conducts five of its seven subscription concerts. He is not only in demand as a conductor of symphonic works but also for opera and dance, with upcoming dates in France, Italy, Stockholm, and L.A.’s Disney Hall.
Nir Kabaretti celebrates his 18th season with the Santa Barbara Symphony this year and conducts five of its seven subscription concerts. He is not only in demand as a conductor of symphonic works but also for opera and dance, with upcoming dates in France, Italy, Stockholm, and L.A.’s Disney Hall. Credit: Santa Barbara Symphony photo

Also on the program will be Emma Lou Diemer’s “Homage to Tchaikovsky,” commissioned by the symphony in 2000. The prolific composer, esteemed UCSB professor emerita and beloved local keyboard artist passed away in June at 96.

Two Programs, One Weekend

January’s concerts will offer another surprise. Rather than repeating the same program on Saturday and Sunday at the “Mozart Marathon” concerts, each has a different repertoire and soloists. It’s still all-Mozart. The soloists are drawn from the orchestra itself.

“It’s important to feature our musicians,” Kabaretti said. “The caliber of these players is very high, and we are fortunate to have such a collection of talents.”

Flute, harp and violin soloists will play with the orchestra on Saturday, Oct. 18. The program also includes “Symphony No. 35: Haffner.” On Sunday, Oct. 19 will be Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” paired with his “Oboe Concerto,” “Piano Concerto No. 23” and “Symphony in D.”

“Seven Deadly Sins” and Sultry Soloist

March’s program is “not something you see every day,” according to Kabaretti.

Pink Martini vocalist Storm Large is the soloist in “The Seven Deadly Sins” in March’s Santa Barbara Symphony concert. The satire was written by Bertolt Brecht with music by Kurt Weill in 1933 and is in the cabaret style popular in Berlin at the time.
Pink Martini vocalist Storm Large is the soloist in “The Seven Deadly Sins” in March’s Santa Barbara Symphony concert. The satire was written by Bertolt Brecht with music by Kurt Weill in 1933 and is in the cabaret style popular in Berlin at the time. Credit: Laura Domela photo

“The Seven Deadly Sins,” March 22-23, has music by Kurt Weill and a libretto by Bertolt Brecht, and was written in 1933 as a satire following the Nazis’ rise to power in Germany. Storm Large, from the genre-defying ensemble Pink Martini, is the soloist. She’s known for her sultry yet powerful style.

“This is a specific genre, from the cabarets of Berlin in the 1920s and 1930s,” Kabaretti said. “It’s unique and jazzy, in a way. A cool combination.”

Might this surprise be too modern for some audience members?

“You might get a dish you don’t like at a restaurant, but it is important to try it,” Kabaretti said. “A restaurant menu is for different tastes. For us, though, some people may want just one thing; we offer a variety of choices. The audience must be open to exploring and experiencing with us.”

“Brahms’ Requiem”

It’s not surprising that a choral masterwork is performed, but Kabaretti reveals a new development that impacts “Brahms’ Requiem,” set for April 26-27.

“A new Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus has been created with Santa Barbara Choral Society, City College’s Quire of Voyces and the Westmont College Choir,” he said. “On stage for these concerts are 80 musicians, the soloists and this new chorus of more than 200 voices.”

Kabaretti will lead joint weekly rehearsals, rather than each group preparing separately, giving cohesion more quickly.

Double Program for Gil Shaham

In May, celebrated violinist Gil Shaham will perform two programs, one featuring Tchaikovsky’s challenging "Violin Concerto" and another with two double concertos played with his wife, violinist Adele Anthony.
In May, celebrated violinist Gil Shaham will perform two programs, one featuring his wife, violinist Adele Anthony. Credit: Santa Barbara Symphony photo

Celebrated violinist Gil Shaham will perform two programs with the orchestra at the season finale in May.

“It is a huge honor for us to have him here, as he is popular worldwide,” Kabaretti said.

On Saturday, May 17, Shaham will tackle Tchaikovsky’s demanding “Violin Concerto.” He will be joined by his wife, violinist Adele Anthony, on Sunday, May 18 for Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Concerto for Two Violins” and the West Coast premiere of Avner Dorman’s “Double Concerto,” which Shaham commissioned. Antonin Dvorak’s lyrical “Symphony No. 8” will be performed at both concerts.

Busy Kabaretti

Kabaretti’s upcoming dates include “Tosca” in France, “La Traviata” in Italy and the “Salute to Vienna” at Disney Hall in Los Angeles. Early next year, he will lead the orchestra for Royal Swedish Ballet’s modern dance performances.

Due to his schedule, guest artists conduct three subscription concerts this season, including November’s all-French program led by David Greilsammer (also a soloist for Maurice Ravel’s “Piano Concerto in G”) and a New Year’s Eve concert led by Andrew Lipke (also performing on guitar). Lucas Richman, who has conducted several film scores (“As Good as It Gets,” “The Village”) will lead the orchestra at February’s screening of Charlie Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush.”

“I don’t have the time to conduct every concert,” Kabaretti said. “Some conductors do things better than me. It’s good for the symphony and me to have guests and to get other people’s perspectives.”