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When Carl St. Clair, music director of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, first came to Orange County, there was no Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. In fact, in 1990, Orange County’s classical music scene was very small. But its size was no indication of its ambition.
“What we’ve been able to accomplish here in 46 years is nothing short of a miracle,” St. Clair said Oct. 17 at the Concert Hall’s Box Circle Club. “But it’s not because of me, it’s because of this community.” . Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our officers, subscribers, and people like you sitting here, you recognize the importance of classical music in your life. ”
Founded in 1978, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra began as a collaboration between California State University Fullerton and Northern Orange County community leaders led by Marcy Mulville, and since 2009 has been the resident orchestra at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. It has become an orchestra. In June 2018, this orchestra became a national orchestra. Debuted on PBS “Great Performance” in June 2018.
Under St. Clair’s direction, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra has become highly regarded within the classical music community, and the conductor has been involved in creative initiatives such as the American Composers Festival, which began in 2000, as well as operatic He was in charge of introducing the “Symphonic Voice” initiative. The Pacific Symphony Orchestra also becomes the largest-budget orchestra formed in the last 50 years and is recognized as a Tier 1 Orchestra by the American Federation of Orchestras, making it one of the youngest orchestras in the United States to earn this honor.
Pacific Symphony Orchestra Music Director Carl St. Clair answered questions from the audience during a fireside conversation with KUSC 91.5 FM Radio host Rich Capparella.
(Sara Mosqueda)
In an intimate and passionate conversation with KUSC 91.5 FM radio host Rich Capparella, St. Clair talked about how Orange County’s classical music scene has grown since he began working with the Pacific Symphony more than 30 years ago. I reflected on how much progress I had made. The longest-serving American-born conductor of a major U.S. orchestra, he reflected on his career in Orange County and his efforts to create programs that fit the community while challenging audiences.
“I feel like I’ve become artistically and musically aware of Orange County because I’ve been with you for so long,” St. Clair said. “It’s not just what I want to do, it’s what’s good for us. Sometimes I give you what you want, and sometimes I give you what you need. Everyone needs to incorporate spinach and broccoli into their lives. There is. That’s good for you.”
St. Clair spoke about his early career in academia as a trumpet teacher and thrilled the audience with stories of his time with the acclaimed Leonard Bernstein.
“One night after a concert in Vienna, I kept calling him Mr. Bernstein,” St. Clair said. “And he said, ‘Cowboy, if you could call me Mr. Bernstein one more time…’ and he jumped over the table and pretended to strangle me.”
St. Clair said Bernstein often called him “Lenny,” but even though they were friends, he couldn’t bring himself to call the legendary conductor and composer so closely. said.
“I used to call him Mr. B because you could only call him Mr. or Maestro,” St. Clair said.
Mr. St. Clair sometimes got up from his chair and spoke passionately about his philosophy on classical music. In the middle of one such impassioned monologue, St. Clair turned to Capparella and joked, “Excuse me, did you have any questions?”
This summer, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra held an outdoor concert series in Irvine, and last year brought in pops conductor Enrico López Yañez to head its popular music program. St. Clair emphasized the orchestra’s dedication to each performance, regardless of venue or subject matter, and praised the musicians as having “virtuosity and versatility.”
“In any given week, we can play ballet, we can play opera, we can play pop music, we can go out in a symphony truck at someone’s park in our hometown. “You can also show movies outside, like the ‘Harry Potter’ score,” St. Clair said. “The musicians of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra bring 100 percent of their talents to everything they do. There is nothing that doesn’t deserve everyone’s full effort and attention.”
Mr. St. Clair made sure to express his appreciation for the Orange County community and his pride in being involved with it.
“In 2006, when we played our last concert in Vienna, the reviewers said, ‘I don’t know where Orange County, California is, but wherever they are, they value classical music and their music. “It’s obvious that the orchestra,” St. Clair said. “What a compliment to all of us.”
Carl St. Clair, music director of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, gives an impassioned lecture at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
(Sara Mosqueda)
The conversation with St. Clair was followed by a Halloween-themed performance titled “Classical Spooktacular,” courtesy of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra. The performance featured music similar to John Williams’ “Devil’s Dance” from the 1987 film “The Witches of Eastwick.” The evening featured an original piece by composer Kenji Bunch, “The Devil’s Box,” and a special virtuoso performance by viola player Meredith Crawford. Inspired by the devil’s long association with the fiddle, Bunch envisioned the viola as a supernatural instrument and proposed a Cajun bowing style known as “devil’s elbow” in which the hair of the bow was wrapped around the instrument.
For the remainder of St. Clare’s 2024-25 season, music lovers can look forward to even more unique classical music experiences, such as “Verdi’s Requiem Rediscovered” in June 2025. St. Clare’s commentary guides the audience through the work before the performance. A complete calendar of events can be found at pacificsymphony.org.
