“The rainstorm on Saturday didn’t stop the Pacific Symphony from performing a free concert at the city’s 10th annual Symphony in the Cities event,” writes Rebecca Turley in Friday’s (7/24) Orange County Register (California). “Usually held outside, this year’s concert was moved inside.… The concert was preceded by a carnival outside the community center, complete with a carousel, food trucks, games and booths from local organizations. ‘We love the symphony; it’s our fourth year in a row,’ said Ladera Ranch resident Lisa Meyers, who attended with her daughter…. During the concert, [Music Director Carl] St.Clair invited children to stand before the stage and learn how to conduct…. Children were handed plastic straws to use as batons. ‘It gets us in touch with a multigenerational audience,’ St.Clair said…. At one point, the symphony decided which music to play using the applause meter, which required the audience to clap for the selection they wanted to hear. They chose Antonin Dvorák’s Symphony No. 9, ‘From the New World,’ and Mozart’s ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,’ or ‘A Little Night Music.’ Guest singers from Cal State Fullerton and Chapman University sang classics from ‘The Sound of Music.’ … The orchestra also played ‘Lara’s Theme’ from the 1965 film ‘Doctor Zhivago.’ ”
Posted July 27, 2015
Pictured: At Symphony in the Cities event, Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair instructs children how to use a baton. Photo by Nick Agro