Summer Performances with OSM, SDS, and at Edinburgh International Festival

Jun 15, 2023

An exciting summer begins for Rafael Payare with the launch of Rady Shell’s 2023 Summer Season on June 30. Payare leads the San Diego Symphony in s night of dancing and iconic melodies, including Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances and the West Coast premiere of Roberto Sierra’s Salseando for Trumpet and Orchestra. Trumpeter Pacho Flores joins as the soloist for Salseando, which was written for him by Sierra in 2020.

Following Payare’s performance in San Diego, he joins the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at the Festival de Lanaudière, opening the Festival on July 7 with a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony alongside Ligeti’s Lux Aeterna. On July 8, Payare leads the OSM in a program of Smetana, Rachmaninov, and Bartók with pianist Denis Kozhukhin. Payare and the OSM return to the Festival again at the beginning of August, conducting Glière’s Harp Concerto with soloist Xavier de Maistre and Stravinsky’s Firebird (August 4), as well as Wagner’s Wesendonck-Lieder with soloist Karen Cargill and Schumann’s Second Symphony (August 5).

From August 16 through August 20, OSM presents its 10^th annual Virée Classique. For this 10^th edition, the festival 26 indoor concerts and a multitude of free community activities, from concerts of the great classical works to Balinese music, as well as jazz, film music, and music from the Balkans and Middle East. Payare opens the festival on August 16, leading a free outdoor concert at Olympic Park’s Esplanade with the OSM and soloists Isabel Leonard and Bomsori. Payare continues at the festival with eight additional performances, including Gubaidulina’s Fairytale Poem (August 18), Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony (August 18), Carmina Burana (August 19 & 20), and more.

Payare closes the summer with performances at Edinburgh International Festival (August 24) and Musikfest Berlin (September 7 & 8).