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Baseball, football, or basketball? Bruckner, Mahler, or Brahms..? ‘Tis the season of reflection and list-making. We asked Artistic and Music Director Donato Cabrera to talk us through his top three most memorable sporting moments and California Symphony concerts. Did yours make Donato’s list?
Top 3 Sporting Memories
In reverse order, of course…
3. 1989 Le Tour de France: This nail biter, still the closest contested in TdF history, was what got me hook, line, and sinker into road cycling. Also, Greg Lemond grew up in Reno, [where I lived from age 10 to 25] so it was particularly meaningful.
2. 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix: My uncle had an extra ticket (with pit access) and while I remember it being deafeningly loud, I was able to watch the then great Formula1 racers compete – Alan Jones (he won), Mario Andretti, Gilles Villeneuve, etc.
1. 1980 Alan King Tennis Classic: My grandmother had box seats and she took me that year. This is where and when I saw all of the tennis greats play: Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, and Vitas Gerulaitus, and more.
Top 3 Conducting Memories
- Katherine Balch—Illuminate (March 2022): I was very concerned that this premiere would never see the light of day because its original performance date was March 2020. However, we have a real commitment to our Young American Composers-in-Residence and while it was still difficult to re-schedule, the subsequent performances were very special. To date, this is one of the largest commissions from a Resident Composer.
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- Beethoven—Symphony No. 5 (September 2019): I have a very particular view of how Beethoven’s symphonies should sound. In brief, I believe they should sound closer to the soundworld of Mozart and Haydn, rather than Wagner and Brahms. This is a difficult thing to achieve because it takes a willingness to forget all of the music post-Beethoven and real knowledge of the music pre-Beethoven. We did it, though, and the performance was excellent.
- Vaughan Williams—Symphony No. 5 (September 2021): Returning from the lockdown and performing this particular piece, which served a similar function during the depths of WWII, was an unforgettable experience.
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Sport and music—especially when played at an elite, professional level—can be the source of great memories and incredible highs for performers and fans alike. Help make this a year-end campaign one to remember with a donation. Your gift gets us closer to the goal of raising $50,000 by December 31 to support our fabulous professional orchestra and music education programs that uplift and inspire our community.
Checks (including from Donor-Advised Funds), credit card payments, gifts of appreciated stock, and IRA distributions are all accepted. Donate now or call the office at 925.280.2490 to make a gift, and hear a Mexican wave roar around the office as we take your donation. Thank you!