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The beautifully curving lines of Segerstrom Concert Hall frame the view from the stage.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
For the second stop on their North American tour, Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed before a sold-out house at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, one of the foremost cultural centers of California’s Orange County.
Designed by famed architect César Pelli with distinctively undulating lines, the Segerstrom Concert Hall opened in 2006; it is one of three theaters that form the Segerstrom Center of the Arts.
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County presented the Costa Mesa concert. In 1965, it first presented the CSO in Orange County. Then music director Jean Martinon led a program featuring Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, also on the bill this week.
Along with Mesa, Arizona, the tour features CSO debuts in Stanford, California, and Stillwater, Oklahoma. The first leg culminates with two concerts in Toronto, marking the orchestra’s first appearances there since 1914. The programs consist of Beethoven’s Seventh and Eighth symphonies and Coriolan Overture, Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony, Liadov’s The Enchanted Lake and Ravel’s arrangement of Mussorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition.
After the CSO returns to Symphony Center for a few weeks, Muti joins them Feb. 23-25 in Chicago and then in Kansas City for a concert Feb. 26 with Julia Fischer in Schumann’s Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony. They wrap up their winter tour by traveling to Florida for four concerts from Feb. 28 to March 4.
The Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, which opened in 2006, was designed by famed architect César Pelli.
Frequent guest conductor and L.A. native Richard Kaufman greets Principal Tuba Gene Pokorny backstage.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Principal Tuba Gene Pokorny and piccolo Jennifer Gunn participate in a preconcert lecture with KUSC-FM radio host Brian Lauritzen as the moderator.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Principal Bass Alexander Hanna warms up backstage before the concert.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Tommy Phillips, president and artistic director of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, the concert's presenter, introduces the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
To open the Costa Mesa concert, Zell Music Director Riccardo Muti leads a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
The first violin section, including Concertmaster Robert Chen, zooms into view.
Todd Rosenberg PhotographyCSO
Young listeners at the Segerstrom Concert Hall watch as the CSO performs Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Segerstrom Concert Hall is known for its warm acoustics, designed by Artec Consultants of New Jersey.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Before the intermission, Riccardo Muti shakes the hand of Principal Cello John Sharp.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Principal Percussion Cynthia Yeh uses a slapstick to great effect in Mussorgsky’s "Pictures from an Exhibition."
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Segerstrom Concert Hall is known for its curving lines and its beautiful silver leaf ceiling.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra close the Costa Mesa concert with an encore, the Intermezzo from Act 3 of Puccini’s opera "Manon Lescaut
Todd Rosenberg Photography
The CSO brass section (from left, second trumpet John Hagstrom, Principal Trumpet Esteban Batallán, Principal Trombone Jay Friedman and trombone Michael Mulcahy) zooms into view.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Stagehands pack up instrument trunks for the trip to the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, site of the next concert.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
