The Santa Barbara Symphony concludes their 65th Anniversary season this April on a high note, with everyone’s favorite immortal tragedy, Romeo and Juliet.
Maestro Nir Kabaretti, who recently announced a three-year contract extension with the symphony, will lead two performances, 8 p.m. Saturday, May 11, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 12, at The Granada Theatre.
While Romeo & Juliet has inspired countless scores by the likes of Berlioz, Prokofiev, and Leonard Bernstein, the Santa Barbara Symphony takes on Tchaikovsky’s Overture-Fantasy.
The Russian composer’s piece has been praised for its depth and emotional resonance.
The evening continues with a return to Elmer Bernstein’s eclectic, post-Romantic Songs of Love and Loathing, which the Santa Barbara Symphony premiered in 1989. Concluding the program and season will be Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8.
Kabaretti will be joined by mezzo-soprano Leann Sandel-Pantaleo. Sandel-Pantaleo has spent her 2018-19 season appearing in concert with the Plano Symphony and the Santa Barbara Symphony.
In recent seasons, she debuted with Opera Santa Barbara as the title role in Bizet’s Carmen, and returned to the role of Amneris in Aida with Sarasota Opera.
“We’re looking forward to this outstanding performance of Romeo and Juliet, an epic love story befitting for our season finale,” said Kevin Marvin, Santa Barbara Symphony executive director.
“We want to thank the entire community for helping make our 65th Anniversary Season such a tremendous success, and we’re looking forward to our next season with Maestro Nir Kabaretti and our phenomenal orchestra, who will continue to bring powerful musical experiences to the Santa Barbara community, and further the symphony’s mission and the important role it plays in our performing arts community,” he said.
Special acknowledgment goes to Principal Concert Sponsor, Daniel and Mandy Hochman.
For tickets click here or call the Granada Box Office, 805-899-2222. For more about the Santa Barbara Symphony and how to support it, visit www.thesymphony.org/.
— Jennifer Zacharias for The Santa Barbara Symphony.