THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY LAUNCHES ITS
INAUGURAL WINTER/SPRING 2025 SEASON
AT THE NEWLY TRANSFORMED JACOBS MUSIC CENTER
JANUARY 10 — MAY 31, 2025
World Premiere of composer Billy Childs’ Concerto for Orchestra, Commissioned by
San Diego Symphony; Five programs led by Music Director Rafael Payare;
Debut of Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas; Inauguration of
Completely Restored Robert Morton Pipe Organ
Symphonic Works by Unsuk Chin, Anna Clyne, Gabriella Smith, and Gareth Farr;
Masterpieces by Bartók, Beethoven, Berlioz, Brahms, Busoni, Dvořák, Grieg, Mahler, Mozart, Prokofiev, Ravel Respighi, Saint-Saëns, Sibelius,
Shostakovich, Smetana, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky
Soloists Include Pianists Paavali Jumppanen, Paul Lewis, Alexander Malofeev,
Parker van Ostrand, Javier Perianes, Jean-Yves Thibaudet; Violinists Francesca Dego, Alexi Kenney, Jeff Thayer; Violist Chi-Yuan Chen; Cellist Alisa Weilerstein;
Saxophonist Steven Banks; Mezzo-Soprano Karen Cargill
Guest Conductors are Tianyi Lu, Ludovic Morlot, Matthias Pintscher, Ruth Reinhardt,
Daniele Rustioni, Eduardo Strausser, and Osmo Vänskä
San Diego, California (January 16, 2025) — The San Diego Symphony’s celebratory 2024-2025 Jacobs Masterworks season continues following the critically acclaimed September reopening of Jacobs Music Center, its transformed historic indoor home. The 2025 winter/spring season will showcase the virtuosity of the world-class musicians of San Diego Symphony Orchestra and bring to life the enhanced acoustics, features, and capabilities of the newly renovated hall.
Highlights of 2025 Winter/Spring Jacobs Masterworks season
In January, Rafael Payare leads the World Premiere of Los Angeles composer Billy Childs’ Concerto for Orchestra commissioned by San Diego Symphony, along with Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 performed by the young Russian rising star Alexander Malofeev in his San Diego Symphony debut, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (January 31 – February 1).
In February, Taiwanese violist and the Karen and Warren Kessler Chair and Principal Viola of San Diego Symphony, Chi-Yuan Chen, tackles Walton’s Viola Concerto in a program including Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, led by Rafael Payare (February 8-9). Michael Tilson Thomas makes his highly anticipated debut and conducts his work Street Song for Symphonic Brass, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with pianist Parker van Ostrand in his debut, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1 “Winter Daydreams” (February 15-16).
In March, Matthias Pintscher leads violinist Alexi Kenney’s debut with Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 2 (March 7, 9) and Tianyi Lu conducts a work by New Zealand composer Gareth Farr, Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony, and Grieg’s Piano Concerto with renowned pianist Paul Lewis (March 29, 30).
Rafael Payare returns in May to lead the season’s three final programs: Unsuk Chin’s Cello Concerto with cellist Alisa Weilerstein and Bruckner Symphony No. 7 (May 10-11); followed by celebrated pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet playing Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5, coupled with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7; “Leningrad” (May 16-17); and Scottish mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill making her debut in Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 with chorus (May 23-25).
The Masterworks series will finish with a monumental work by Gustav Mahler, the Symphony No. 3 bringing the season to a dramatic close. The work requires massive orchestral resources, powerhouse singers, and full choruses, showcasing one of the hall’s new features—its Choral Terrace, one of the most visually striking additions to the new hall.
PROGRAMS
Colors and Rhythms: Clyne, Mozart, Beethoven
Friday, January 17
Saturday, January 18
Eduardo Strausser, conductor
Javier Perianes, piano
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
ANNA CLYNE: Color Field
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36
The celebrated composer Anna Clyne’s Color Field opens the concert with a work imagining what mixing yellow and red would sound like. Eduardo Strausser leads Mozart‘s Piano Concerto No. 21, composed during his peak of creativity, is performed by Spanish pianist Javier Perianes, followed by Beethoven’s Second Symphony with its amazing rhythmic drive, grandeur and sonority of sound.
Busoni’s Violin Concerto
Friday, January 24
Sunday, January 26
Daniele Rustioni, conductor
Francesca Dego, violin
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
BERLIOZ: Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9
BUSONI: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35a
TCHAIKOVSKY: Francesca da Rimini, Op. 32
RESPIGHI: Feste romane (Roman Festivals)
Daniele Rustioni makes his Symphony debut in conducting this program of Italian-themed works. The evening begins with Berlioz’s rousing Roman Carnival Overture. Ferruccio Busoni was one of the great Italian musicians of the late 19th and early 20th century and was world famous as a pianist Making her Symphony debut, violinist Francesca Dego performs Busoni’s virtuosic Violin Concerto. The second half of the program features Tchaikovsky’s symphonic fantasy based on one of the greatest and most tragic love stories ever told, the fatal affair between Francesca da Rimini and her brother-in-law Paolo. The concert ends with Respighi’s Roman Festivals depicting scenes from Rome, from the gladiators and the harvest festival to celebrating the Epiphany in the Piazza Navona.
Orchestral Evolution: Childs’ Premiere and Beethoven’s Eroica
Friday, January 31
Saturday, February 1
Rafael Payare, conductor
Alexander Malofeev, piano
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
BILLY CHILDS: Concerto for Orchestra (World Premiere, Commissioned by San Diego Symphony)
PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55, Eroica
Rising star Alexander Malofeev performs Prokofiev’s demanding Piano Concerto No. 3, a work written for the composer himself to play in his many tours of the USA in the 1920s and 1930s. The program begins with the World Premiere of Los Angeles-born, GRAMMY® Award-winning composer Billy Childs’ Concerto for Orchestra, and ends with Music Director Rafael Payare leading Beethoven’s celebrated Eroica symphony, one of the most influential symphonies in the Western musical canon.
Symphonic Journeys: Strauss, Walton, Brahms
Saturday, February 8
Sunday, February 9
Rafael Payare, conductor
Chi-Yuan Chen, viola
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
R. STRAUSS: Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration), Op. 24
WALTON: Viola Concerto
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73
Music Director Rafael Payare conducts Richard Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration, a monumental meditation on the journey of life, beginning in childhood, through the trials and joys of adulthood, and ending in the transfiguration of the spirit; along with William Walton’s Viola Concerto, written when the composer was only 27 years old and one of the few widely played concertos for this instrument. The concert ends with Brahms’ Second Symphony, composed in southern Austria on the beautiful lake of the Wörthersee. “Here,” said Brahms, “the melodies grow so thick upon the ground that one must take care not to step on them as one walks.”
MTT’s Street Songs and Winter Daydreams
Saturday, February 15
Sunday, February 16
Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
Parker van Ostrand, piano
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS: Street Song for Symphonic Brass
RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 13, Winter Daydreams
Beloved American conductor and composer Michael Tilson Thomas makes his SDSO debut in this special program and conducts his own Street Song for Symphonic Brass, a work reflecting his love for all kinds of popular and street music of the past and especially music connected with his grandparents, the Yiddish theatre stars Boris and Bessie Tomashefsky. Rising star pianist Parker van Ostrand performs Rachmaninoff’s demanding Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, based on Paganini’s famous 24th Caprice for solo violin. The program ends with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1, the composer’s first large-scale orchestral work.
Vänskä Conducts Sibelius and Beethoven
Friday, Feb 28
Saturday, Mar 1
Osmo Vänskä, conductor
Paavali Jumppanen, piano
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
SIBELIUS: Tapiola, Op. 112
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op.73, Emperor
SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 82
Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä, a leading authority on the music of Jean Sibelius, leads the composer’s tone poem Tapiola. one of his final works before he ceased writing in the late 1920s and a commission from the New York Philharmonic. Sibelius’s Fifth Symphony was inspired by the natural landscape of his home country and especially by the beautiful flight of whooper swans on the lakes and waters of Finland. Rounding out the program is Beethoven’s Emperor piano concerto performed by Finnish pianist and Beethoven expert Paavali Jumppanen.
Mother Goose, Symphonic Dances and More
Friday, Mar 7
Sunday, Mar 9
Matthias Pintscher, conductor
Alexi Kenney, violin
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
RAVEL: Suite (5 pièces enfantines) from Ma Mère l’Oye (Mother Goose)
BARTÓK: Violin Concerto No. 2
RACHMANINOFF: Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
Conductor Matthias Pintscher leads Ravel’s Mother Goose, originally conceived as a piano duet for adults and children, and later transformed into an orchestral ballet. Alexi Kenney makes his Symphony debut with Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 2, written in the composer’s last years in Europe before, despairing of the triumph of fascism and violence on all sides, he emigrated to the USA. After emigrating in 1918, Rachmaninoff, as one of the world’s most sought-after pianists, had little time for composing and completed only six pieces in a quarter of a century of exile. But that music is among his most beautiful. His elegiac final work, his Symphonic Dances, was written when World War II was already underway, and the composer and his wife were living in New York City. Rachmaninoff, spent time in a country retreat on Long Island which inspired music combining nostalgia for an old world gone with the rhythmic energy and optimism he so loved about America.
From the Depths: Lu Leads Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony
Saturday, Mar 29
Sunday, Mar 30
Tianyi Lu, conductor
Paul Lewis, piano
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
GARETH FARR: “The Invocation of the Sea” from From the Depths Sound the Great Sea Gongs
GRIEG: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
Winner of the Sir Georg Solti International Conductors’ Competition, conductor Tianyi Lu opens her concert with the first movement of Gareth Farr’s From the Depths Sound the Great Sea Gongs. Farr is one of New Zealand’s leading composers whose music pulsates with rhythms and colors reflect his love of the landscapes and surrounding oceans and his fascination with his country’s Māori traditions. Norway’s greatest composer Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto is perhaps the composer’s most popular work and one of the most familiar piano concertos in world repertoire. The soloist is English pianist Paul Lewis. The concert ends with one of the best loved of all Tchaikovsky’s works, his dramatic Fourth Symphony, written at one of the most productive periods in the composer’s life.
Czech Masterpieces and a Saxophone Concerto
Saturday, May 3
Sunday, May 4
Ruth Reinhardt, conductor
Steven Banks, saxophone
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
SMETANA: Overture and Three Dances from The Bartered Bride
YOSHIMATSU: Soprano Saxophone Concerto, Albireo Mode
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88
Ruth Reinhardt leads works by two Czech masters: the Overture and Three Dances from Smetana’s folk-inspired romantic comedy The Bartered Bride; and Dvořák’s joyous Symphony No. 8, the composer was passionate about the beauties of the rural world, taking pleasure especially in the rich variety of the songs of wild birds and probably no other symphony in the established repertoire is so full of delicious suggestions of singing birds. The program features Steven Banks performing Japanese composer Takashi Yoshimatsu’s Soprano Saxophone Concerto Albireo Mode. Written nearly 20 years ago, this accessible and gentle music is shot through with the sound of temple bells and the liquid traditions of American free jazz for which Yoshimatsu has a special admiration.
Weilerstein and Payare Perform Chin and Bruckner
Saturday, May 10
Sunday, May 11
Rafael Payare, conductor
Alisa Weilerstein, cello
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
UNSUK CHIN: Cello Concerto
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 7 in E Major
Cellist Alisa Weilerstein’s mastery of drama and plangent lyricism is the perfect match for South Korean composer Unsuk Chin Cello Concerto, widely described as a triumph at its first appearance many years ago. Bruckner is one of the greatest one-offs in the history of music. The heir to Schubert and Wagner (but to hardly any other of the great composers!), he had a deep influence on Gustav Mahler, who loved and admired him passionately. His Seventh Symphony, often makes the orchestra sound like a colossal organ in an ancient medieval church, and has often been described as nothing short of a cathedral in sound. It would be hard to imagine music better suited to exploring the deepest resonances of our beautiful new hall, especially under the baton of music director Rafael Payare.
Elegant to Epic: Saint-Saëns and Shostakovich
Friday, May 16
Saturday, May 17
Rafael Payare, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
SAINT-SAËNS: Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major, Op. 103, Egyptian
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 60, Leningrad
Considered one of the finest pianists of today, Jean-Yves Thibaudet performs Camille Saint-Saëns‘ final piano concerto, written while he was vacationing in Cairo, Egypt. Then Rafael Payare leads Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7, Leningrad. The first performance of the Leningrad took place in August 1942, a year into the 30-month blockade of the city by Axis powers, and was broadcast throughout the city as a show of defiance against German forces. Since then, the symphony has become a powerful international symbol of human resistance to brutality, barbarism, and injustice.
Ode to Nature: Payare Conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 3
Friday, May 23
Saturday, May 25
Sunday, May 26
Rafael Payare, conductor
Karen Cargill, mezzo-soprano
San Diego Symphony Chorus
San Diego Symphony Orchestra
MAHLER: Symphony No. 3 in D minor
Written over the course of three years, Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 is a monumental two-part declaration of faith that reveals the composer’s wide-ranging influences, from folk song to mythology and philosophy. Perhaps no other symphony of Mahler’s so well embodies his famous declaration to Sibelius, in Sibelius’s own account: “A symphony must be like the world. It must embrace everything.”. World-renowned mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill makes her San Diego Symphony debut, conducted by Music Director Rafael Payare, for these final concerts of this historic season.
Tickets, priced at $39–$120, are available online here, by calling 619.235.0804, or at the Jacobs Music Center box office at 750 B Street San Diego, CA 92101.
For full season details, click here.
ABOUT RAFAEL PAYARE
One of today’s most sought-after conductors, renowned for his profound musicianship, technical brilliance, and charismatic presence, Rafael Payare assumed the leadership of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra as its Music Director on July 1, 2019. Mr. Payare served as Principal Conductor and Music Director of the Ulster Orchestra from 2014 through 2019 and was named Conductor Laureate in recognition of his artistic contributions. He also has served as Principal Conductor of the Castleton Festival and Honorary Conductor of the Sinfonietta Cracovia.
In 2022, Mr. Payare will assume the role of Music Director of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. As a guest conductor, he has led many of the world’s great orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, and Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. As an opera conductor, Mr. Payare made his acclaimed debut at the Glyndebourne Festival in 2019 and has conducted at the Royal Swedish Opera and Malmo Opera.
Born in Venezuela in 1980 and a graduate of El Sistema, Mr. Payare began his formal conducting studies in 2004 with José Antonio Abreu. He has conducted all the major orchestras in Venezuela, including the Simón Bolívar Orchestra, in which he served as Principal Horn and took part in many tours and recordings with conductors including Giuseppe Sinopoli, Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle, and Lorin Maazel. In May 2012, Rafael Payare was awarded first prize at the Malko International Conducting Competition.
ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY
San Diego Symphony is one of the largest and most significant cultural organizations in California. The Orchestra performs for more than 250,000 people each season, offering a wide variety of programming at its two much-loved venues, Jacobs Music Center in downtown San Diego and The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park on San Diego Bay. In early 2018, the San Diego Symphony announced the appointment of Rafael Payare as music director. Payare leads the orchestra’s 82 full-time musicians, graduates of the finest and most celebrated music schools in the United States and abroad. The San Diego Symphony also serves as the orchestra for the San Diego Opera each season, as well as performing at several regional performing arts and community centers. For more than 30 years, the San Diego Symphony has provided comprehensive learning and community engagement programs reaching more than 65,000 people annually and bringing innovative programming to San Diego’s diverse neighborhoods and schools.
For more information, visit www.sandiegosymphony.org.