Long Beach Symphony announces its 2022-2023 concert season

Long Beach Symphony, under the direction of Maestro Eckart Preu, is proud to announce its 2022-2023 Classical and Pops seasons.

The Classical season opener on Oct. 1 will feature Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and concertmaster Roger Wilkie will share his virtuosity in Mendeissohn’s only violin concerto.

On Nov. 19 pianist Natasha Paremski will perform the Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini at Terrace Theater with Tchaikovsky’s beautiful Swan Lake Suite and rousing 1812 Overture also on the program.

Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons on Feb. 4 will spotlight the Long Beach Symphony violinists—Roger Wilkie, Agnes Gottschewski, Chloé Tardiff and Chyi-Yau Lee as they take turns leading the various seasons.

Orff’s Carmina Burana on March 11will present the Long Beach camerata singers’ vocal forces joined by the Silver-Garburg piano duo.

The season will culminate on June 3 spotlighting pianist Michelle Cann, in Florence Price’s piano concerto and culminating in Gershwin’s An American in Paris. All classical season concerts in the Long Beach Terrace Theater start at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 for 7 p.m. pre-concert talks with maestro and music director Eckart Preu and guest artists. Patrons can enjoy sipping on their beverages during the concert. The Pops season provides a unique experience with audiences enjoying indoor picnicking while singing and dancing inside the Long Beach Arena’s Pacific Ballroom. The Elton John Tribute, starring Craig A. Meyer, will open the season on Oct. 29 with Remember When Rock Was Young. The annual holiday Pops concert on Dec. 17 will celebrate the evening of holiday favorites and sing-alongs led by the Long Beach camerata singers. Arrival from Sweden: The Music of Abba will be featured on Feb. 25. On March 25, vocalists Scarlett Strallen, LaKisha Jones and Hugh Panaro will be featuring West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Chicago, Hairspray, Rent, and Les Miserables, plus Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s greatest hits from Cats and Phantom of the Opera.

The Pops season ends on May 20 with a night of symphonic rock dance party as thousands dance to the greatest classic rock hits of all time featuring an allstar six-piece rock band with the Long Beach Symphony playing tunes by the Eagles, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Scorpions, Starship, Journey and more.

All Pops season concerts at Long Beach Arena, Pacific Ballroom start at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 for picnicking. Outside food and drinks allowed.

People may purchase 5-concert series subscriptions starting at $95, 3-concert sampler packs that include picks from the Classical and/or Pops for $99, and single tickets starting at $30.

For tickets or more information, visit LongBeachSymphony. org or call (562) 436-3203.

The Long Beach Symphony enforces all city health and safety protocols. —Sue Moylan