Santa Rosa Symphony

Debut & Aspirante Youth Orchestras, Saturday Morning Jazz Spring Concert
2024-05-01 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Pre-concert $15/adult, $5/youth

At the Door$20/adult, $10/youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday preceding the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

Group TicketsGroup sale tickets (10+) must be purchased prior to 11:00 am on Friday, April 17, 2026 and are not available at the door. To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742.

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders.

SRS Patron Services Hours and Location: M,T,TH,F: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | W: 10:30 am – 5:00 pm | Closed Saturday & Sunday50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Aspirante Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Jennifer & Donavon Ammons

Debut Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Gordon BlumenfeldSavannah Hill Music Scholarship Fund

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are nonrefundable and subject to availability.

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

Debut & Aspirante Youth Orchestras, Saturday Morning Jazz
2024-05-01 08:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Pre-concert $15/adult, $5/youth

At the Door$20/adult, $10/youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday before the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

Group TicketsGroup sale tickets (10+) must be purchased prior to 11:00 am on Friday, November 21, 2025 and are not available at the door. To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742.

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders.

SRS Patron Services Hours and Location: M,T,TH,F: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | W: 10:30 am – 5:00 pm | Closed Saturday & Sunday50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Aspirante Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Jennifer & Donavon Ammons

Debut Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Gordon BlumenfeldSavannah Hill Music Scholarship Fund

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are nonrefundable and subject to availability.

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Concert: Dazzling Cadence
2024-05-01 08:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Pre-concert $15/adult, $5/youth

At the Door$20/adult, $10/youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday preceding the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

Group TicketsGroup sale tickets (10+) must be purchased prior to 11:00 am on Friday, May 8, 2026 and are not available at the door. To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742.

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders.

SRS Patron Services Hours and Location: M,T,TH,F: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | W: 10:30 am – 5:00 pm | Closed Saturday & Sunday50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Nancy Doyle, MD in memory of her father Edward S. Doyle

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are nonrefundable and subject to availability.

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra & Maria Carrillo High School Wind Ensemble Concert
2024-05-01 08:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Pre-concert $15/adult, $5/youth

At the Door$20/adult, $10/youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday preceding the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

Group TicketsGroup sale tickets (10+) must be purchased prior to 11:00 am on Friday, February 27, 2026 and are not available at the door. To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742.

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders.

SRS Patron Services Hours and Location: M,T,TH,F: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | W: 10:30 am – 5:00 pm | Closed Saturday & Sunday50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Nancy Doyle, MD in memory of her father Edward S. Doyle

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are nonrefundable and subject to availability.

Photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

Myth & Reverie: Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra
2024-05-01 08:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Pre-concert $15/adult, $5/youth

At the Door$20/adult, $10/youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday preceding the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742 or click here

Group TicketsGroup sale tickets (10+) must be purchased prior to 11:00 am on Friday, November 14, 2025 and are not available at the door. To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742.

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders.

SRS Patron Services Hours and Location: M,T,TH,F: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | W: 10:30 am – 5:00 pm | Closed Saturday & Sunday50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Nancy Doyle, MD in memory of her father Edward S. Doyle

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are nonrefundable and subject to availability.

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

Debut & Aspirante Youth Orchestras, Saturday Morning Jazz: Portraits in Sound
2024-05-01 08:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Tickets available July 29, 2024

Pre-concert Door$15 Adult $20 Adult$5 Youth $10 Youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday before the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742 or click here.

Group sale tickets (10+) are not available at the door. They must be purchased in advance and before the 11 AM deadline on the Friday before the concert.

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders. Tickets are non-refundable and subject to availability.

SRS Patron Services Hours: M-F: 9 AM – 5 PM | W: 10:30 AM- 5 PM | Closed Saturday & Sunday | 50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Aspirante Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Jennifer & Donavon Ammons

Debut Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Gordon BlumenfeldSavannah Hill Music Scholarship Fund

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

Young People's Chamber Orchestra: Heavy Harmonies, Bright Counterpoint
2024-05-01 08:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

The Young People’s Chamber Orchestra is sponsored by Garth Bixler

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra Bon Voyage Concert
2024-05-01 08:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Pre-concert

$15 Adult, $5 Youth

Door

$20 Adult, $10 Youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday preceding the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742 or click here

Group sale tickets (10+) are not available at the door. They must be purchased in advance and before the 11 AM deadline on the Friday preceding the concert

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders. Tickets are non-refundable and subject to availability

SRS Patron Services Hours: M-F: 9 AM – 5 PM | W: 10:30 AM- 5 PM | Closed Saturday & Sunday | 50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Nancy Doyle, MD in memory of her father Edward S. Doyle

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Concert
2024-05-01 08:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Tickets available July 29, 2024

Pre-concert Door$15 Adult $20 Adult$5 Youth $10 Youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday before the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742 or click here.

Group sale tickets (10+) are not available at the door. They must be purchased in advance and before the 11 AM deadline on the Friday before the concert.

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders. Tickets are non-refundable and subject to availability.

SRS Patron Services Hours: M-F: 9 AM – 5 PM | W: 10:30 AM- 5 PM | Closed Saturday & Sunday | 50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Nancy Doyle, MD in memory of her father Edward S. Doyle

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra & Santa Rosa Junior College Orchestra
2024-05-01 08:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Tickets available July 29, 2024

Pre-concert Door$15 Adult $20 Adult$5 Youth $10 Youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday before the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742 or click here.

Group sale tickets (10+) are not available at the door. They must be purchased in advance and before the 11 AM deadline on the Friday before the concert.

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders. Tickets are non-refundable and subject to availability.

SRS Patron Services Hours: M-F: 9 AM – 5 PM | W: 10:30 AM- 5 PM | Closed Saturday & Sunday | 50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa.

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Nancy Doyle, MD in memory of her father Edward S. Doyle

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra: Romantic Masters
2024-05-01 08:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Online ticket sales are closed at 11:00am Friday, November 15. Tickets will be available at the door!

Pre-concert Door$15 Adult $20 Adult$5 Youth $10 Youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday before the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742 or click here.

Group sale tickets (10+) are not available at the door. They must be purchased in advance and before the 11 AM deadline on the Friday before the concert

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders. Tickets are non-refundable and subject to availability

SRS Patron Services Hours: M-F: 9 AM – 5 PM | W: 10:30 AM- 5 PM | Closed Saturday & Sunday | 50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa.

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Nancy Doyle, MD in memory of her father Edward S. Doyle

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

Symphony Uncorked @ Deerfield Ranch Winery
2024-04-24 08:00 - 17:00
Symphony Uncorked @ Deerfield Ranch Winery in Three-Parts

Part 1. Moving with Bach: Solo Works Around the Wine Cave | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Begin your Symphony Uncorked experience with wine tasting in the heart of Deerfield Ranch Winery’s cave. The 23,000 sq. ft. cave is where Deerfield Ranch makes and barrel ages their wine. Enjoy four solo performances by musicians of the Santa Rosa Symphony and savor a wine tasting with Deerfield Ranch Winery. To reserve your wine tasting spot, please click here.

Moving with Bach will feature four solo performances beginning at 1:00 pm for 30 minutes. Each performance will take place in a different location in the cave, and each will feature unique repertoire by Johann Sebastian Bach. Moving with Bach solo performances are free and open to the public.

Solo performances: 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm

Wine tasting is $35/person. Reserve wine tasting.

Part 2. A Symphony of Flavors: A Guided Wine Tasting and Talk with Robert Rex | 6:30 pm

Learn about the history of Deerfield Ranch Winery, the cave, and how their CleanWine® making process produces wine low in sulfites and low in histamines. Taste three of Deerfield’s award-winning wines with owner and Winemaker Robert Rex.

A Symphony of Flavors plus complimentary wine tasting is included in the ticket and is not open to the public.

Part 3. Cellos in the Cave: Cellists of Santa Rosa Symphony | 7:30 pm

Our inaugural Symphony Uncorked event concludes with a special concert experience in the Grand Room of Deerfield’s wine cave. The virtuosic cellists of the Santa Rosa Symphony will be featured in a program of music arranged and written for cello ensemble. With works for two cellos (Bach), four cellos (Wagner), five cellos (Grieg), and eight cellos (Villa-Lobos), audiences will be treated to the mesmerizing aural experience of hearing an expanding cello ensemble in a concert venue like no other.

Cellos in the Cave is included in the ticket and is not open to the public. General Seating.

Ticket information

Admission: $150/person (includes parts two and three.)

To purchase tickets, click the link above or call Patron Services at (707) 546-8742.

Tickets are limited and non-refundable.

The concert is general seating and will take place in the wine cave.

Please contact Patron Services if you have accessibility needs.

Plan Your Visit

Bring a picnic and enjoy the gorgeous summer views from Deerfield Ranch Winery.

Wine will be available for purchase.

No food will be available during the day-long event.

Get directions.

Visit the Deerfield Ranch Winery website.

Be prepared for changing temperatures, bring a sweater or jacket for the evening performance.

Questions? Please call Patron Services at (707) 546-8742.

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Nancy & Rob Novak

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

Spring Concert: Debut & Aspirante Youth Orchestras
2024-04-14 15:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Pre-concert Door$15 Adult $20 Adult$5 Youth $10 Youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday preceeding the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742 or click here

Group sale tickets (10+) are not available at the door. They must be purchased in advance and before the 11 AM deadline on the Friday preceeding the concert

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders. Tickets are non-refundable and subject to availability

SRS Patron Services Hours: M-F: 9 AM – 5 PM | W: 10:30 AM- 5 PM | Closed Saturday & Sunday | 50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Aspirante Youth Orchestra is sponsored by

Jennifer & Donavon Ammons

Debut Youth Orchestra is sponsored by

Gordon BlumenfeldSavannah Hill Music Scholarship Fund

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

Orchestra Meets Jazz: Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra
2024-04-03 08:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Pre-concert Door$15 Adult $20 Adult$5 Youth $10 Youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday preceeding the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742 or click here

Group sale tickets (10+) are not available at the door. They must be purchased in advance and before the 11 AM deadline on the Friday preceeding the concert

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders. Tickets are non-refundable and subject to availability

SRS Patron Services Hours: M-F: 9 AM – 5 PM | W: 10:30 AM- 5 PM | Closed Saturday & Sunday | 50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

The Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra is sponsored by Nancy Doyle, MD in memory of her father Edward S. Doyle

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

The Paul Simon Songbook
2024-03-20 08:00 - 17:00
Arrive early for the Pre-Show Discussion beginning at 2:00 pm.

Tickets

Tickets can only be purchased through the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Season ticket packages are available ONLINE now, or by downloading the form and sending the completed form to us by mail or email. See details on the form. If you have any questions, please call the Patron & Member Services Office at (707) 546-3600. Order today to get the best seats!

Subscriptions for the 2024-2025 season on sale now.

Individual tickets on sale for members starting August 20. General public, August 23.

Generous support provided by

Concert sponsored by Betty and George FerrisPops Conductor TBD sponsored by Nancy and Michael Hall

Classical Mystery Tour: The Music of the Beatles
2024-03-20 08:00 - 17:00
Arrive early for the Pre-Show Discussion beginning at 2:00 pm.

Tickets

Tickets can only be purchased through the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Season ticket packages are available ONLINE now, or by downloading the form and sending the completed form to us by mail or email. See details on the form. If you have any questions, please call the Patron & Member Services Office at (707) 546-3600. Order today to get the best seats!

Subscriptions for the 2024-2025 season on sale now.

Individual tickets on sale for members starting August 20. General public, August 23.

Generous support provided by

Concert sponsored by Michelle and Kevin Konicek Troy Quinn, Symphony Pops Conductor sponsored by Nancy and Michael Hall

Banner photo by Terry Barnhill

Holiday Pops
2024-03-20 08:00 - 17:00
Arrive early for the Pre-Show Discussion beginning at 2:00 pm.

Tickets

Tickets can only be purchased through the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Season ticket packages are available ONLINE now, or by downloading the form and sending the completed form to us by mail or email. See details on the form. If you have any questions, please call the Patron & Member Services Office at (707) 546-3600. Order today to get the best seats!

Subscriptions for the 2024-2025 season on sale now.

Individual tickets on sale for members starting August 20. General public, August 23.

Generous support provided by

Concert sponsored by The Heck FoundationGuest Conductor Mike Berkowitz, sponsored by Nancy and Michael Hall

Harry Potter & the Magic of Music
2024-03-20 08:00 - 17:00
Arrive early for the Pre-Show Discussion beginning at 2:00 pm.

Tickets

Tickets can only be purchased through the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Season ticket packages are available ONLINE now, or by downloading the form and sending the completed form to us by mail or email. See details on the form. If you have any questions, please call the Patron & Member Services Office at (707) 546-3600. Order today to get the best seats!

Subscriptions for the 2024-2025 season on sale now.

Individual tickets on sale for members starting August 20. General public, August 23.

Generous support provided by

Concert sponsored by Gordon BlumenfeldFrancesco Lecce-Chong Pops Conductor sponsored by Nancy and Michael Hall

Banner photo by Susan and Neil Silverman Photography

Road to 100: The Complete Beethoven Symphonies, Year 2
2024-02-26 08:00 - 17:00
Tickets

Youths 7-17 years of age may receive one complimentary ticket with every paid adult. Request tickets through Patron Services at (707) 546-8742. Classical Series concerts only.

$10 student rush tickets for college students with a valid student ID. Available starting 1-1/2 hours prior to the concert, at the door only. Classical Series concerts only.

Beethoven BBQ on Weill Lawn!

To top off the concert experience, immediately following the performance, there will be a lively no-host Beethoven BBQ on the lawn adjacent to the hall. Mingle with Maestro Lecce-Chong, meet orchestra musicians, and connect with other concertgoers – it’ll be a blast!

The BBQ is open to all Road to 100 ticket holders and will feature an eclectic assortment of food trucks, including:

Casa Nostra –The ultimate pizza experience. Wood-fired perfection, organic ingredients, and the perfect soft and crunchy crust. Artisanal pizza bliss!

Mariscos El Cora – Mouth-watering tacos using the finest local ingredients. Authentic taste and packed with flavor. Simply scrumptious!

Tri Tip Trolley – A symphony of bold flavors, fresh ingredients and sensory delight. Tri-tip ‘sandos’, street corn, mac ‘n cheese, protein bowls and assorted slides. Pure deliciousness!

Red Rose Catering – Serving authentic Southern flavors, healthy ingredients, and treasured family recipes, providing good old-fashioned Southern BBQ. Southern cooking from the heart!

Sushi Shoubu – Bursting with flavor and made to order, handcrafted hand rolls, customizable rice bowls and their signature sushi burrito. Sushi nirvana!

PLUS! One complimentary alcoholic beverage per person included (must be 21+). This year featuring HenHouse Brewing Co., William Knuttel Winery, Wine Spies, Deerfield Ranch Winery and Dry Creek Vineyard.

For more information

Spotify Playlist

Plan Your Visit

Program Notes

Directions & More

Seating Map

Before the Concert

At the Concert

Dining & Hotels

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Sponsored by Sara & Dixon BrowderConductor Francesco Lecce-Chong sponsored by Jamei Haswell, in honor of Richard GrundyLudwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 2 in D major, Opus 36 sponsored by Jonathan Rileyand HenHouse Brewing Co., William Knuttell Winery, Wine Spies, Deerfield Ranch Winery and Dry Creek Vineyard

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

The Planets
2024-02-26 08:00 - 17:00
Concert Conversations with Francesco Lecce-Chong

Concert Conversations are general seating and free to Classical Series concert ticket holders. Approximately 30 minutes in Weill Hall.

Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 6:30 pm

Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 2:00 pm

Monday, May 5, 2025 at 6:30 pm

Tickets

Youths 7-17 years of age may receive one complimentary ticket with every paid adult. Request tickets through Patron Services at (707) 546-8742. Classical Series concerts only.

$10 student rush tickets for college students with a valid student ID. Available starting 1-1/2 hours prior to the concert, at the door only. Classical Series concerts only.

Painted Violins

A fundraiser for the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra Tour to Germany & The NetherlandsIn June 2025 sixty young musicians will perform in Berlin, Leipzig, Essen, and Amsterdam, sharing their music with local audiences and collaborating with European students. To support the tour, we’re hosting a special fundraising event, “Painted Violins” during all three Classical Series performances of The Planets (May 3, 4 & 5, 2025) at Weill Hall, Green Music Center.

Eighteen Sonoma County artists have transformed stringed instruments into unique works of art. These pieces will be displayed (six per performance) for a silent auction, with bidding taking place before the concert and during intermission. Bidding closes after intermission, and winners will be announced immediately after the concert.

Bidders must be present and prepared to pay for and take possession of the art at the end of the performance. Your winning bid is a fully tax-deductible donation.

Proceeds from the silent auction will help us reach our final fundraising goal of $100,000 for the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra’s tour of Germany & The Netherlands.

See the Violins!

Spotify Playlist

Plan Your Visit

Program Notes

Learn about Discovery Rehearsal

Directions & More

Seating Map

Before the Concert

At the Concert

Dining & Hotels

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Classical Series underwritten by Anderman Family FoundationSponsored by The Peggy Anne Covington FundConductor Francesco Lecce-Chong sponsored by David & Corinne ByrdOrion Weiss sponsored by Sara & Edward KozelYoung Women’s Chorus of San Francisco sponsored by Linda & David HanesDiscovery Rehearsal Series sponsored by The Stare Foundation and David Stare of Dry Creek VineyardPre-concert talk sponsored by Jamei Haswell & Mack SchwingSeason Media Sponsor: The Press Democrat

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

A New World
2024-02-25 08:00 - 17:00
Concert Conversations with Yue Bao

Concert Conversations are general seating and free to Classical Series concert ticket holders. Approximately 30 minutes in Weill Hall.

Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 6:30 pm

Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 2:00 pm

Monday, March 24, 2025 at 6:30 pm

Tickets

Click here to purchase tickets for Monday, March 24, 2025, at 7:30 pm.

Youths 7-17 years of age may receive one complimentary ticket with every paid adult. Request tickets through Patron Services at (707) 546-8742. Classical Series concerts only.

$10 student rush tickets for college students with a valid student ID. Available starting 1-1/2 hours prior to the concert, at the door only. Classical Series concerts only.

Spotify Playlists

Plan Your Visit

Program Notes

Learn about Discovery Rehearsals

Directions & More

Seating Map

Before the Concert

At the Concert

Dining & More

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Classical Series underwritten by Anderman Family FoundationSponsored by Susan and Bruce Dzieza and Marsha Vas Dupre and Jack DupreSimone Porter sponsored by Vic and Karen Trione, in memory of Henry TrioneMendelssohn: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra sponsored by The E. Nakamichi FoundationDiscovery Rehearsal Series sponsored by The Stare Foundation and David Stare of Dry Creek VineyardPre-concert talk sponsored by Jamei Haswell and Mack SchwingSeason Media Sponsor: The Press Democrat

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

Photo by Elisha Knight

Bernstein & Brahms
2024-02-25 08:00 - 17:00
Concert Conversations with Francesco Lecce-Chong

Concert Conversations are general seating and free to Classical Series concert ticket holders. Approximately 30 minutes in Weill Hall.

Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 6:30 pm

Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 2:00 pm

Monday, February 24, 2025 at 6:30 pm

Tickets

Youths 7-17 years of age may receive one complimentary ticket with every paid adult. Request tickets through Patron Services at (707) 546-8742. Classical Series concerts only.

$10 student rush tickets for college students with a valid student ID. Available starting 1-1/2 hours prior to the concert, at the door only. Classical Series concerts only.

Spotify Playlist

Plan Your Visit

Program Notes

Learn about Discovery Rehearsal

Directions & More

Seating Map

Before the Concert

At the Concert

Dining & Hotels

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Classical Series underwritten by Anderman Family Foundation Sponsored by The Dorothea Rowena Lyman FundConductor Francesco Lecce-Chong sponsored by David & Corinne ByrdJoyce Yang sponsored by Sandra JordanDiscovery Rehearsal Series sponsored by The Stare Foundation and David Stare of Dry Creek VineyardPre-concert talk sponsored by Jamei Haswell & Mack SchwingSeason Media Sponsor: The Press Democrat

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

Photo by KT Kim

Beethoven & Copland
2024-02-25 08:00 - 17:00
Concert Conversations

Concert Conversations are general seating and free to Classical Series concert ticket holders. Approximately 30 minutes in Weill Hall.

Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 6:30 pm

Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 2:00 pm

Monday, October 21, 2024 at 6:30 pm

Tickets

Youths 7-17 years of age may receive one complimentary ticket with every paid adult. Request tickets through Patron Services at (707) 546-8742. Classical Series concerts only.

$10 student rush tickets for college students with a valid student ID. Available starting 1-1/2 hours prior to the concert, at the door only. Classical Series concerts only.

Spotify Playlist

Plan Your Visit

Program Notess

Learn about Discovery Rehearsals

Directions & More

Seating Map

Before the Concert

At the Concert

Dining & Hotels

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Classical Series underwritten by Anderman Family FoundationSponsored by Marcia Wagner, in memory of Hap WagnerConductor Francesco Lecce-Chong sponsored by David & Corinne ByrdKai Ryssdal sponsored by Stephen & Lynn OlsenDavid McCarroll sponsored by Sig Anderman, in memory of Susan AndermanThe music of Aaron Copland, sponsored by Sam Guerrera, in memory of Ava GuerreraDiscovery Rehearsal Series sponsored by The Stare Foundation and David Stare of Dry Creek VineyardPre-concert talk sponsored by Jamei Haswell and Mack SchwingSeason Media Sponsor: The Press Democrat

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

Photo by Steve Riskind

RACH & the Hollywood Sound
2024-02-25 08:00 - 17:00
Concert Conversations with Francesco Lecce-Chong

Concert Conversations are general seating and free to Classical Series concert ticket holders. Approximately 30 minutes in Weill Hall.

Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 6:30 pm

Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm

Monday, January 13, 2025 at 6:30 pm

Tickets

Youths 7-17 years of age may receive one complimentary ticket with every paid adult. Request tickets through Patron Services at (707) 546-8742. Classical Series concerts only.

$10 student rush tickets for college students with a valid student ID. Available starting 1-1/2 hours prior to the concert, at the door only. Classical Series concerts only.

Spotify Playlist

Plan Your Visit

Program Notes

Learn about Discovery Rehearsals

Directions & More

Seating Map

Before the Concert

At the Concert

Dining & Hotels

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Classical Series underwritten by Anderman Family FoundationSponsored by Willow Creek Wealth ManagementConductor Francesco Lecce-Chong sponsored by David & Corinne ByrdAdelle-Akiko Kearns sponsored by Garth BixlerAndrew Harrison sponsored by Garth BixlerDiscovery Rehearsal Series sponsored by The Stare Foundation and David Stare of Dry Creek VineyardPre-concert talk sponsored by Jamei Haswell and Mack SchwingSeason Media Sponsor: The Press Democrat

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

Photo by Susan and Neil Silverman Photography

Mahler’s Resurrection
2024-02-25 08:00 - 17:00
Concert Conversations with Francesco Lecce-Chong

Concert Conversations are general seating and free to Classical Series concert ticket holders. Approximately 30 minutes in Weill Hall.

Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 6:30 pm

Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 2:00 pm

Monday, December 9, 2024 at 6:30 pm

Tickets

Youths 7-17 years of age may receive one complimentary ticket with every paid adult. Request tickets through Patron Services at (707) 546-8742. Classical Series concerts only.

$10 student rush tickets for college students with a valid student ID. Available starting 1-1/2 hours prior to the concert, at the door only. Classical Series concerts only.

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We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Classical Series underwritten by Anderman Family FoundationConcert sponsored by The Donald & Maureen Green Orchestral Works Endowment FundConductor Francesco Lecce-Chong sponsored by David & Corinne ByrdCommissioned Work: Warum hast du gelitten? (World Premiere) by Jonathan Leshnoff sponsored by The Clarence E. Heller Charitable FoundationEsther Tonea sponsored by Mark DierkhisingGabrielle Beteag sponsored by Mark DierkhisingSonoma State University Symphonic Chorus sponsored by Linda & David HanesPre-concert talk sponsored by Jamei Haswell and Mack SchwingSeason Media Sponsor: The Press Democrat

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

Photo of Esther Tonea by Victor Xie, photo of Gabrielle Beteag by Lola Scott

Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev
2024-02-24 08:00 - 17:00
Concert Conversations with Francesco Lecce-Chong

Concert Conversations are general seating and free to Classical Series concert ticket holders. Approximately 30 minutes in Weill Hall.

Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 6:30 pm

Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 2:00 pm

Monday, November 11, 2024 at 6:30 pm

Tickets

Youths 7-17 years of age may receive one complimentary ticket with every paid adult. Request tickets through Patron Services at (707) 546-8742. Classical Series concerts only.

$10 student rush tickets for college students with a valid student ID. Available starting 1-1/2 hours prior to the concert, at the door only. Classical Series concerts only.

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Program Notes

Learn about Discovery Rehearsals

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Dining & Hotels

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Classical Series underwritten by Anderman Family FoundationSponsored by Viking CruisesConductor Francesco Lecce-Chong sponsored by David & Corinne ByrdJon Kimura Parker sponsored by Jacques & Barbara SchlumbergerDiscovery Rehearsal Series sponsored by The Stare Foundation and David Stare of Dry Creek VineyardPre-concert talk sponsored by Jamei Haswell and Mack SchwingSeason Media Sponsor: The Press Democrat

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

Photo by Tara McMullen

"Stayin' Alive" -The Bee Gees Tribute
2024-02-20 00:00 - 02:00 | Luther Burbank Center For The Arts
Pre Concert Talk!

Join Principal Pops Conductor Michael Berkowitz one hour prior to every concert for a discussion of the afternoon’s concert, along with personal anecdotes and memories from his storied career working on Broadway and with Liza Minelli, Henry Mancini, and Marvin Hamlisch among many others.

How to Purchase tickets for the pops!

Although the Santa Rosa Symphony is performing, the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts is selling the tickets for this concert.

POPS! Subscription FormNew subscriptions on sale June 10Individual tickets on sale August 17

To purchase tickets, click here.LBC Box office: (707) 546-3600Tues – Sat, 10am – 6pm | closed Sunday and Monday(Open 2 hours before performances on Sundays and Mondays)

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We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Mike Berkowitz underwritten by Michael and Nancy Hall

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

SRSYO - Shall We Dance
2024-01-23 08:00 - 17:00
Repertoire subject to change

Ticket Information

Pre-concert Door$15 Adult $20 Adult$5 Youth $10 Youth

Please note: the pre-concert price is valid until 11 AM of the Friday preceeding the concert. After that, tickets can only be purchased at the door.

To purchase group tickets, please contact the Santa Rosa Symphony Patron Services Office at 707-546-8742 or click here

Group sale tickets (10+) are not available at the door. They must be purchased in advance and before the 11 AM deadline on the Friday preceeding the concert

Ticket fees apply for online and phone orders. Tickets are non-refundable and subject to availability

SRS Patron Services Hours: M-F: 9 AM – 5 PM | W: 10:30 AM- 5 PM | Closed Saturday & Sunday | 50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra sponsored by the George L. Smith Jr. M.D. and Nancy Doyle M.D. Fund of the Community Foundation Sonoma CountySavannah Hill Music Scholarship Fund

Banner photo by Susan & Neil Silverman Photography

RACH & the Hollywood Sound
2024-01-23 08:00 - 17:00
Concert Conversations with Francesco Lecce-Chong

Concert Conversations are general seating and free to Classical Series concert ticket holders. Approximately 30 minutes in Weill Hall.

Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 6:30 PM

Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 2:00 PM

Monday, March 21, 2022 at 6:30 PM

2021-2022 Season Brochure

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Covid Protocols for This Concert

Ages 7 & up;

Masks are required in keeping with CDC recommendations and Sonoma State guidelines and must cover the mouth and nose at all times.

Photo ID is required (not required for children under 12 if accompanied by parent.)

And one of the following:

Proof of vaccination – name on card must match photo ID.

Negative COVID PCR test (taken within 48 hours prior to performance) – name on the test results must match photo ID. These tests must be conducted by a laboratory.

No one will be admitted without a mask, photo ID and either proof of vaccine or negative COVID-19 PCR test. No exceptions.

Please stay home if…

You are sick or have any of the following symptoms: fever, sore throat, chills, cough, shortness of breath, congestion, nausea, or vomiting.

You’ve been in close contact with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms within the past 14 days.

You’ve been directed to self-isolate or quarantine by a health care provider or public health official.

You are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 PCR test.

No one will be admitted without a mask, photo ID and either proof of vaccine or negative COVID-19 PCR test. No exceptions.

For more information about COVID-19 protocols, please click here.

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:

Classical Concert Series underwritten by Anderman Family FoundationDonald and Maureen Green Orchestral Works Endowment FundConductor Francesco Lecce-Chong underwritten by David and Corinne ByrdDiscovery Open Rehearsal Series sponsored by The Stare Foundation and David Stare of Dry Creek VineyardPre-concert Talks sponsored by Jamei Haswell and Richard GrundySeason media sponsor: The Press Democrat

Programs, dates, artists, prices and COVID-19 protocols are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability.

March 2022 Program Notes by Elizabeth Schwartz

Hildur Guðnadóttir – From the Other Place
COMPOSER: born September 4, 1982, Reykjavík, IcelandWORK COMPOSED: 2014WORLD PREMIERE: undocumentedINSTRUMENTATION: unspecifiedESTIMATED DURATION: around 8 minutes“My intention is to let things be themselves.” – John CageIn the early years of the last century, a Connecticut life insurance salesman who had studied composition at Harvard and spent 14 years as a professional organist started writing some highly unusual music. At the time, few people understood what he was doing, or even agreed that what he was writing was in fact music, so radical, chaotic and dissonant did it sound. One like-minded young composer 3,000 miles away in California did appreciate it, however. Thanks in part to Henry Cowell, a modernist composer from Menlo Park, the music of Charles Ives did not fade into obscurity after the older composer’s death in 1954.Why begin a program note on Icelandic composer, cellist and singer Hildur Guðnadóttir by talking about Charles Ives? Because Ives was perhaps the first modern composer to use what have come to be known as indeterminate or aleatoric techniques in his compositions, just as Guðnadóttir does in From The Other Place (more about this later). Ives pioneered the use of improvisation in American classical music – a few of his compositions include notes in the score asking the performers to insert improvised measures within the full score.As the 20th century progressed, other composers began incorporating aspects of randomness or unpredictability into their own works. The Harvard Concise Dictionary of Music defines this kind of compositional approach as “Music in which the composer introduces elements of chance or unpredictability with regard to either the composition or its performance. The terms aleatoric, chance music, [and] music of indeterminacy have been applied to many works created since 1945 by composers who differ widely as to the concepts, methods and rigor with which they employ procedures of random selection.” The avant-garde composer John Cage is the best-known proponent of indeterminate music in the United States.In the 1960s and 1970s, composers also began experimenting with non-traditional notation. Some invented their own idiosyncratic symbols to indicate pitches such as the quarter-tones or microtones found in Asian and Middle-Eastern music, that Western notation does not easily accommodate. Others abandoned notation entirely and began creating scores using graphics: ascending lines, geometric shapes, arrows, spirals, even colors. Some of these graphic scores have become visual as well as aural art, like George Crumb’s Mikrokosmos. To view more graphic scores, visit theguardian.com/music/gallery/2013/oct/04/graphic-music-scores-in-pictures or classicfm.com/discover-music/latest/graphic-scores-art-music-pictures/ Guðnadóttir, who comes from a large family of musicians, fuses her classical cello training with experimental pop and contemporary art music. In her solo works, Guðnadóttir draws out a broad spectrum of sounds from her instrument, ranging from intimate simplicity to huge expansive soundscapes. In the last few years, Guðnadóttir’s work has received worldwide attention, thanks to her Oscar-winning score for the 2019 film, The Joker. She has won numerous awards for her other film and television works, including music for Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Mary Magdalene, Tom of Finland, Journey’s End, and the Icelandic Scandinavian noir TV series Trapped. In September 2021, Guðnadóttir and her husband Sam Slater released their score for the video game Battlefield 2042.In his notes for a Eugene Symphony concert featuring film music, Music Director Francesco Lecce-Chong writes, “From the Other Place was not written specifically for a film, but it is representative of [Guðnadóttir’s] ethereal sounds and spontaneous musicmaking. Instead of traditional sheet music, musicians are asked to create music in the moment by choosing their own path through a map of colored dots representing notes. Instead of the chaos that one might imagine, the result is something almost meditative.”Guðnadóttir described her approach to her work in an interview for the online music magazine 15 Questions: “Time is … very important for me. I enjoy music the most that slows time down. I need time to take in every little nuance of a sound. I need to have time and space for breath within music. So when writing music these are elements that are almost always there. As a result the music I write is normally quite slow.“I think it’s important that the audience has the freedom to interpret music personally, without me telling them, ‘You should feel this,’ or that this is great music because of some ingenious mathematical equation that I figured out. It’s just like speaking to someone. The listener doesn’t need to understand what’s happening in my vocal chords to appreciate what I am saying. If the listener is really interested in anatomy he might want to find those things out, and it might add something to the meaning for him. But I feel the listener shouldn’t need to do that.”

Nino Rota – Suite dal balletto [Ballet Suite] from La Strada [The Road] for Orchestra
COMPOSER: born December 3, 1911, Milan; died April 10, 1979, RomeWORK COMPOSED: 1966WORLD PREMIERE: September 2, 1966, at the Teatro alla Scala in Milano.INSTRUMENTATION: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, celesta, cymbals, sleighbells, suspended cymbals, tambourine, tam-tam, woodblock, xylophone, drum set, piano, harp and stringsESTIMATED DURATION: 30 minutesStop a random person walking down the street in Anytown, USA, and ask them to name a movie composer; most likely they will reply, “John Williams.” In Italy, the passerby would probably answer, “Nino Rota.” The Milano-born composer is best known for his more than 150 film scores, and particularly for his long collaboration with director Federico Fellini, which began in 1951 and continued until Rota’s death in 1979. When asked about Rota, Fellini remarked, “The most precious collaborator I have ever had, I say it straightaway and don’t even have to hesitate, was Nino Rota – between us, immediately, a complete, total, harmony … He had a geometric imagination, a musical approach worthy of celestial spheres.” Rota, a composing prodigy, began performing and publishing his own music while in his teens. He graduated from Rome’s Conservatoria Santa Cecilia in 1930, whereupon conductor Arturo Toscanini encouraged the 19-year-old to continue his studies in the United States. Rota attended the Curtis Music Institute in Philadelphia from 1930-32, where he studied conducting under Fritz Reiner. After he returned to Milan, Rota earned an additional degree in literature from his hometown university. In 1950, Rota became director of the Liceo Musicale in Bari, where he remained until 1978.Although best known for his Fellini scores, which include La Dolce Vita, Amarcord, and 8 ½, Rota also worked with other notable directors, including Luchino Visconti (Le notti bianche); Franco Zeffirelli (Romeo and Juliet), and Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather and The Godfather, Part II; Rota won an Oscar for Best Score for the latter).

The film La Strada won the inaugural Oscar for Best Foreign-Language Film. Twelve years later, Rota arranged a suite from the score for a ballet based on the movie. The suite’s seven movements capture Rota’s deft handling of an eclectic variety of musical styles, and his innate sense of musical storytelling. Gelsomina, an innocent, simple-minded young girl, is sold by her mother to Zampano, a loutish street performer whose specialties are feats of strength. Gelsomina becomes a sidekick clown, luring in crowds with her drums and trumpet. The two join a circus where Gelsomina befriends tightrope walker Il Matto, who encourages her to break away from the abusive Zampano and make a life for herself. In a murderous rage, Zampano kills Il Matto; afterwards, consumed by guilt, he abandons Gelsomina, who, unable to cope on her own, wastes away and dies. Zampano, hearing of her death, is further crushed by despair.Rota’s jaunty syncopated brasses, cymbals and drums reflects the hurly-burly of life in the circus. Gelsomina’s primary theme is heard throughout, most prominently sounded by the solo trumpet near the end, just after Il Matto expresses his concern for her in a poignant violin solo. Rota, usually known for his unforgettable melodies, writes effective orchestral dissonances to depict the murder. Just as Gelsomina fades away, so does the music, in a disembodied, slightly eerie manner featuring strings harmonies and an otherworldly celeste.

Sergei Rachmaninoff – Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, Opus 13
COMPOSER: born April 1, 1873, Oneg, Russia; died March 28, 1943, Beverly HillsWORK COMPOSED: Between January and October 1895. Dedicated to “A.L.” (Anna Lodyzhenska)WORLD PREMIERE: Alexander Glazunov led the Russian Symphony Society in concert in St. Petersburg on March 27, 1897INSTRUMENTATION: 3 flutes (1 doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, military drum, snare drum, tam-tam, triangle and strings.ESTIMATED DURATION: 42 minutes The right person on the podium can make all the difference. Consider the case of 22-year-old Sergei Rachmaninoff, a rising star in Russian musical circles, and the notoriously disastrous premiere of his first symphony. Critic and composer Cesar Cui, one of “The Mighty Five,” a group of Russian composers that also included Mily Balakirev, Alexander Borodin, Modest Mussorgsky and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, was particularly vicious. His review of the premiere has become famous in its own right, particularly the following: “If there were a conservatory in Hell, and if one of the students were given an assignment to compose a programmatic symphony on the theme of ‘The Seven Plagues of Egypt’ and composed a symphony like Rachmaninoff’s, he would have fulfilled his assignment brilliantly and thrilled the inhabitants of Hell.” Others in the audience agreed that the performance was awful, but were more sympathetic to Rachmaninoff, like conductor Alexander Khessin, who, recalling the premiere, remarked, “The Symphony was insufficiently rehearsed, the orchestra was ragged, basic stability in tempos was lacking, many errors in the orchestral parts were uncorrected; but the chief thing that ruined the work was the lifeless, superficial, bland performance, with no flashes of animation, enthusiasm or brilliance of orchestral sound.” A more thoughtful assessment appeared in the April issue of Russkaya Muzykalnaya Gazeta:

“The climax of the concert, Rachmaninoff’s D minor symphony, was not very successfully interpreted, and was therefore largely misunderstood and underestimated by the audience. This work shows new impulses, tendencies toward new colors, new themes, new images, and yet it impresses one as something not fully said or solved. However, I shall refrain from expressing my final opinion, for it would be too easy to repeat the history of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, only recently ‘re-discovered’ by us, and which everyone now admires as a new, marvelous, and beautiful creation. To be sure, Rachmaninoff’s first symphony may not be wholly beautiful, integrated and definite, but some of its pages seem far from mediocre. The first movement, and especially the furious finale with its concluding Largo, contains much beauty, novelty, and even inspiration …”

Given Rachmaninoff’s own abilities as a conductor (although today he is best known as a composer, during his lifetime, Rachmaninoff had three successful musical careers: composition, performance, and conducting) with the 20/20 benefit of hindsight, he and his music would have been better served had he conducted the premiere of the Symphony No. 1 in D minor himself. But in 1897, Rachmaninoff was at the beginning of his musical career, and not yet established as a conductor. Logic and convention dictated that a better-known colleague should conduct the premiere of Rachmaninoff’s highly-anticipated first symphony. Unfortunately, the colleague in this instance was fellow composer, pedagogue, and conductor Alexander Glazunov. Although Glazunov had an established reputation as a conductor, Rachmaninoff was dismayed by his lackluster performance at Op. 13’s premiere. Six weeks later, Rachmaninoff wrote to his friend and colleague Alexsandr Zatayevich: “I am not at all affected by its lack of success, nor am I disturbed by the newspapers’ abuse; but I am deeply distressed and heavily depressed by the fact that my Symphony, though I loved it very much and love it now, did not please me at all after its first rehearsal. This means, you’ll say, that it was poorly orchestrated. But I am convinced, I reply, that good music can shine through poor instrumentation, nor do I consider the instrumentation to be wholly unsuccessful. So two surmises remain. Either, like some composers, I am unduly partial to this composition, or this composition was poorly performed. And this is what really happened. I am amazed – how can a man with the high talent of Glazunov conduct so badly? I speak not merely of his conducting technique (there’s no use asking this of him), but of his musicianship. He feels nothing when he conducts – as if he understands nothing! … If the public were familiar with the symphony, they would blame the conductor … but when a composition is both unknown and badly performed, the public is inclined to blame the composer.”Others present at the premiere corroborated Rachmaninoff’s opinion regarding Glazunov, whose alcoholism was an open secret in Russian musical circles. (Glazunov’s most famous composition student, Dmitri Shostakovich, recalled that Glazunov habitually kept a bottle hidden in his desk, from which he would surreptitiously sip through a tube during lessons). Glazunov’s role in the fiasco notwithstanding, lasting damage was done to both Rachmaninoff himself and his aspiring career. As a result, Rachmaninoff sank into a depression so severe he abandoned composition entirely for three years. In 1900, he tried and failed to write his second piano concerto. As Rachmaninoff recounted in his Memoirs: “I did nothing and found no pleasure in anything. Half my days were spent lying on a couch and sighing over my ruined life.” Desperate, Rachmaninoff sought help from a hypnotist, Dr. Nicolai Dahl, who was also an amateur string player. Dahl, using hypnotic techniques, planted encouraging thoughts in Rachmaninoff’s head during their sessions. “I heard the same hypnotic formula repeated day after day while I lay half asleep in my armchair in Dr. Dahl’s study,” Rachmaninoff wrote. ‘You will begin to write your concerto … You will work with great facility … the concerto will be of excellent quality …’ It was always the same, without interruption. Although it may sound incredible, this cure really helped me.” Rachmaninoff recovered, but the D minor Symphony did not, at least not during his lifetime. Rachmaninoff refused to revise or publish it, and neglected to take the manuscript score with him when he left Russia for the United States in 1917. The orchestral score has since been lost, but some months after Rachmaninoff died, a two-piano transcription of Op. 13 surfaced in Moscow. Not long afterwards, the orchestra parts were found at the Leningrad (formerly St. Petersburg) Conservatory; together these discoveries allowed for a reconstruction of the full score. In 1945, when the refurbished symphony received its first performance since its premiere, audiences and critics hailed it as a triumph. Fans of Rachmaninoff’s music know that he had a lifelong preoccupation/mild obsession with the opening notes of the Dies irae (Day of Wrath), the plainchant taken from the liturgy of the Mass for the Dead. Rachmaninoff embedded the Dies irae in many of his own compositions, including Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Isle of the Dead, his first piano sonata, and the tone poem The Bells. Many other composers have also incorporated the Dies irae into their music, but for Rachmaninoff this stark, powerful fragment had a lifelong magnetism that kept him returning to it throughout his life. In the D minor Symphony, Rachmaninoff treated the Dies irae as a behind-the-scenes motivator. He never quotes it directly, but the opening theme of the Allegro ma non troppo, which recurs at the opening of each subsequent movement, borrows the contours of the Dies irae’s rise and fall in a manner that tempts the listener to believe they have heard the actual tune. Russian-ness permeates this work. Rachmaninoff’s profound connection with and love for the music of his homeland is evident throughout, as is his signature combination of unabashedly lush melodies tinged with melancholy poignancy. His orchestration is effective, showing his skills at handling the multiverse of timbres found in an orchestra. Additionally, Rachmaninoff ventures into bold statements, particularly in the closing Allegro con fuoco (with fire). A confident brass fanfare opens a triumphal march with military flourishes (snare drum and other percussion). This contrasts with ominous muttering in the strings, which riff on that Dies irae-esque fragment so insistently one could swear the gates of Hell were about to open. Instead we hear sweeping themes for horns, in a manner that nods at Mahler and anticipates Shostakovich. The Czar’s official title was “Czar of All the Russias.” This symphony translates that geographical concept into music with its broad scope, range of moods, shifting colors, and inherent power.

© 2022 Elizabeth Schwartz Elizabeth Schwartz is a writer and music historian based in the Portland area. She has been a program annotator for more than 20 years, and works with music festivals and ensembles around the country. Schwartz has also contributed to NPR’s “Performance Today,” (now heard on American Public Media). NOTE: These program notes are for Santa Rosa Symphony patrons and other interested readers. Any other use is forbidden without specific permission from the author, who may be contacted at classicalmusicprogramnotes.com.

SRSYO - Spring Splendors
2024-01-23 08:00 - 17:00
Tickets:

Before the Concert: (price valid until March 3, 2023 at 11:00 am)$5 – Youth$15 – Adult$10 – Group (10+) available by phone only

After March 3, 2023 at 11:00 am and at the door$10 – Youth$20 – AdultGroup tickets are not available at the door.

Tickets are nonrefundable and subject to availability.

$2 ticket fee applies.

Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice.

Questions? Please call Patron Services at (707) 546-8742

Photos by Jurgita Mazeika

Plan Your Visit

Learn more about the Discovery Rehearsal Series

Directions & More

Seating Map

Before the Concert

At the Concert

Dining & Hotels
