Reviews
2019-2020: Ovation
Monterey Symphony opens Ovation season
Christina Mok will be playing a violin on loan from Thomas Yee of “Bay Fine Strings” made by one of the Italian 18th-century violin-making masters. (Contributed photo)
The Monterey Symphony will open its 74th season, Ovation, this weekend, which features a Berlioz extravaganza and concertmaster Christina Mok as the soloist in Antonín Dvorák's "Romance" for violin and orchestra. Mok will be playing a violin on loan from Thomas Yee of "Bay Fine Strings" made by one of the Italian 18th-century violin-making masters. Its tone has been described as "liquid, sustaining, radiantly brilliant, blooming, robust, with an open carrying power."
Conductor and music director Max Bragado-Darman leads the ensemble in this first program of his final season with the organization.
"The Roman Carnival Overture" by Berlioz begins the concert. His monumental "Symphonie Fantastique" concludes this festive offering. Patrons are invited to attend the opening night party before the concert, a celebration on the lower terrace of the Sunset Center that includes aerial artistry by Erin Jane, desserts by the Parker Lusseau bakery and local wines from Chalone Vineyards. Tickets for Saturday include the opening night party from 7-8 p.m. Sunday 's matinee concert takes place at 3 p.m. Thirty minute pre-concert lectures by Alicia Mastromonaco happen at Sunset Center 1 hour before the program begins. For tickets and information call 831-646-8511 or visit the website at www.montereysymphony.org.
The organization reports fantastic news that this season it will be performing free youth concerts to 9,000 students, which is a 58% greater capacity from last year.
The concerts bring this important cultural experience to students from local school districts, including supplemental education packets and interactive school visits from Symphony staff. They will learn about concert etiquette and instrument families and the repertoire for the upcoming concert. Bragado, who has long championed this program, conducts these concerts, which are condensed to 45 minutes of regular season programs. The performances take place at Carmel's Sunset Center and Sherwood Hall in Salinas.
Educational institutions of all kinds serving youth in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties are encouraged to sign up to attend a Monterey Symphony youth concert. Contact the Monterey Symphony at 831-645-1120 or email cfillmore@montereysymphony.org to join the Youth Concert audience.