Reviews

Monterey Symphony

Max Bragado-Darman concludes his long and acclaimed leadership of the Monterey Symphony this season.  He has served as the ensemble's music director since 2004 and before that as a regular guest conductor.   A search for a new conductor will commence next season with an opportunity for the public to hear selected candidates lead the orchestra in the 2020-2021 subscription series programs.  Conductor search seasons, by the way, are an illuminating way to experience the professional excellence of the orchestra as it responds to the musical approaches of the various candidates.  If you are new to the Monterey Symphony, subscribing to the next two seasons will give you an insight into the quality of this ensemble.

Bragado opens his final series, "Ovation," Oct. 19-20 with a Hector Berlioz extravaganza.  His Roman Carnival overture and monumental Symphonie Fantastique form the heart of this program, with concertmaster Christina Mok featured between these works in Romance by Antonín Dvorák.  Nov. 16-17, pianist Kun Woo Paik solos Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27 and Johannes Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1.

Feb. 15-16, Bragado leads the symphony in Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade.   Guest conductor Oleg Caetani takes the baton March 14-15 for a performance of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 3 and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 15.  Bragado returns April 18-19 to lead the ensemble in the Brahms Violin Concerto, featuring soloist Judith Ingolfsson, and Jean Sibelius's Symphony No. 2.  The season finale on May 16-17 showcases Bragado and the orchestra in Richard Strauss's Don Juan and Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 1.

Bragado continues his youth concert series, which will be divided between Sherwood Hall in Salinas and Carmel's Sunset Center, where the subscription series takes place.

Patrons can enjoy special events including luncheons and dinners and the Symphony's Paella Cook-Off pitting maestro Bragado's now legendary paella in a contest with a local celebrity chef and a farewell celebration for this exceptional conductor and his leadership of the orchestra.   For tickets and more information, call 831-646-8511 or visit www.montereysymphony.org.