The San Diego Symphony has announced its 2015-2016 City Lights pops lineup and International Passport Series, which features musical acts from around the world. Both series take place at the Jacobs Music Center – Copley Symphony Hall in downtown San Diego.
City Lights
Marvin Hamlisch, San Diego Symphony’s former principal pops conductor, will be honored by a trio of Broadway veterans in One Singular Sensation (March 4) in next season’s pops-themed City Lights Series. These Broadway artists include Tony Award-winning Donna McKechnie
(A Chorus Line), Tony Award-nominee Jodi Benson (Crazy for You) and Phantom of the Opera’s Doug LeBrecque. This show salutes Marvin Hamlisch, a giant in the entertainment business—and one of the most celebrated composers of stage and screen including A Chorus Line, The Way We Were, They’re Playing Our Song, Ordinary People and Sophie’s Choice to name a few.
Seinfeld star and Tony Award-winning Broadway actor Jason Alexander brings the songs of the musical theater plus laughter and surprises to San Diego’s Jacobs Music Center on April 8 and 9. Best known for his role as George Costanza on Seinfeld, he has also had an active career on stage appearing in several Broadway musicals including Jerome Robbins’ Broadway for which he won the Tony Award as Best Leading Actor in a Musical. Previously scheduled to appear at San Diego Symphony’s Summer Pops on August 23, 2015, Jason instead will be returning to Broadway this summer in Larry David’s mega-hit, Fish in the Dark. The San Diego Symphony looks forward to Jason Alexander being part of its exciting City Lights lineup next April at the Jacobs Music Center.
City Lights begins the season with two movies. First up: Disney in Concert: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas featuring the music of Danny Elfman (October 30 and 31). The movie will be projected onto the big screen while the San Diego Symphony performs Danny Elfman’s score. Next: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (November 13). This blockbuster movie, perfect for the entire family is filed with unparalleled magic and imagination. Once again, the San Diego Symphony will perform John Williams’ Oscar-winning score live on stage while the movie is show in HD on the big screen.
Always a traditional favorite with San Diego audiences, San Diego Symphony’s Holiday Pops returns (December 18-20)—this time featuring Cirque Musica filled with acrobats, jugglers demonstrating strength balance, daring and sheer beauty. City Lights continues on February 6 with singer/songwriter and alternative pop/rock superstar, Ben Folds, who brings his repertoire of hits along with his new concerto for piano and orchestra to the Jacobs Music Center.
International Passport Series
A mere three weeks after the Symphony’s outdoor Summer Pops extravaganza ends on Labor Day Weekend, the entertainment moves indoors starting with the International Passport Series. These presentations do not include the San Diego Symphony but offer a variety of musical acts from around the globe including countries represented this coming season: China, India, Japan, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States.
Greetings from Asia. The National Circus and Acrobats of The People’s Republic of China (September 27), one of the country’s longest running and most distinguished circus troupes featuring the Great Teeterboard, Grand Flying Trapeze and Group Contortion. Continuing with performers from Asia, the Bollywood Masala Orchestra and Dancers of India (October 18) present “The Spirit of India,” a bold vision of Indian live music and dance. It’s a colorful musical journey from Rajasthan to Mumbai and beyond. Later in the season (March 12), it’s
TAO: Seventeen Samurai to astound the audience with explosive Taiko drumming and innovative choreography.
Europe offer the next three performances with Compañia Flamenca Jose Porcel (November 15), a dazzling company of dancers and musicians that will feature its new program, “Flamenco Fire” combining a contemporary look and energy with the heart of classic Seville flamenco. For three consecutive nights (February 9, 10 and 11), the Moscow Festival Ballet offers stunning performances of the fairy tale, Cinderella, the darkly magical Giselle and the timeless Romeo and Juliet. And on February 21—with all of the pomp and circumstance that the UK does so well, The Band of the Royal Marines and the Pipes, Drums and Highland Dancers of the Scots Guard display its military musical versatility.
Igudesman & Joo (March 20): Aleksey Igudesman and Hyung-ki Joo are two classical musicians who have taken the world by storm with their unique and hilarious theatrical shows combining comedy with classical music and popular culture. They are living their dream of making classical music accessible to a wider and younger audience.
globalFest on the Road: Creole Carnival (March 26): During the past decade, the multicultural phenomenon, globalFest, has become one of the most dynamic global music platforms in North America. What started as an annual showcase in New York, has grown into an international brand, building audiences for world music at South by Southwest (SXSW) and Bonnaroo Music Festival and beyond.
For more information and tickets call the Box Office at 619.235.0804 or visit sandiegosymphony.com
