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Another tremendous summer of California Philharmonic concerts culminates this weekend with “Broadway & Bolero,” the captivating season finale featuring esteemed Maestro Victor Vener, his world-class orchestra and a powerful trio of special guests.

Taking place Saturday, Aug. 23 at Santa Anita Race Track and Sunday, Aug. 24 at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the scintillating program boasts Broadway sensations Randal Keith and Joan Almedilla lending their voices to songs from such hit shows including Chicago and Evita. “Broadway & Bolero” marks Almedilla’s California Philharmonic debut, as well as a reunion with Keith, as they performed opposite of each other on th...

Magic, Fantasy and Adventure, the third concert of Maestro Victor Vener and his California Philharmonic’s 2014 Summer Season, already has people singing praise for the captivating program that mixes suites of music from The Lion King, Beauty & The Beast and The Little Mermaid along with classical masterpieces such as Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Bach’s Toccata and Fugue.

Joining the world class orchestra for the concert is the acclaimed 100-plus member-strong Cal Phil Chorale, led for the past seven seasons by the multi-talented Chorus Maestra Marya Basaraba.

Known as “The Voice of Cal Phil,” Cal Phil Chorale is composed of some of California’s best choral singers, whose beautiful sound i...

Philharmonic Orchestra to perform pieces from "Star Trek," Frozen," "Game of Thrones"

The California Philharmonic Orchestra will present musical pieces from some of the most memorable films and series in history during a concert at Santa Anita Race Track on Saturday, August 9, 7:30-10:15 p.m.

Maestro Victor Vener will lead the California Philharmonic in roaming through 150 years of music from the greatest movies ever, including “Star Trek,” “Independence Day” and “Game Of Thrones.”

The audience will also able to follow the adventures of “Babe” as the group covers Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony. The California Philharmonic will be joined by renowned musician Philip Smith during a per...

Victor Vener, the California Philharmonic’s founder and conductor, has always had a flair for mixing the popular world with the classic: Imagine seeing Richard Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” on the same marquee with, say, “Star Wars.”

His critical facilities let all kinds of works compete: Aaron Copland and John Williams, even, a few years back, W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan and popular 20th century composers.

So Saturday’s Cal Phil concert in the midway at Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, the third in the five-concert series there, was no big deal. Usually the orchestra repeats the concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles the following day, but due to a scheduling c...

If you and your family have enjoyed movies like The Lion King, Beauty & The Beast and The Little Mermaid, you are bound to like this Saturday’s concert by the California Philharmonic (Cal Phil) at theSanta Anita Race Track. Aside from music from those Disney favorites, the orchestra will play classical masterpieces such as Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Bach’s Toccata and Fugue.

Joining Cal Phil will be the acclaimed 100-plus member Cal Phil Chorale, led by Chorus Maestra Marya Basaraba. “Cal Phil Chorale Maestra Marya Basaraba is not only a brilliant Chorus Master but a spectacular soloist,” says Maestro Vener. “She and the Chorale are tremendous assets to the California Philharmonic and t...

Magic, Fantasy and Adventure, the highly-anticipated third concert of Maestro Victor Vener and his California Philharmonic’s 2014 Summer Season, already has people singing praise for the captivating program that mixes suites of music from The Lion King, Beauty & The Beast and The Little Mermaid along with classical masterpieces such as Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Bach’s Toccata and Fugue. Joining the world class orchestra for the concert is the acclaimed 100-plus member-strong Cal Phil Chorale, led for the past seven seasons by the multi-talented Chorus Maestra Marya Basaraba. Known as “The Voice of Cal Phil,” Cal Phil Chorale is composed of some of California’s best choral singers, ...

So let me get this out of the way before I start my review: I’m a huge fan of bass-baritone Cedric Berry.

Ever since I first heard him about four years ago at a performance of Gian Carlo Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors” in Pasadena, his voice had seized my attention. His instrument is powerful and dense, but pliant, and leavened with irresistible charisma and interpretive insight. If one were to compare him, his voice most closely resembles Cesare Siepi’s – and Berry really is that good.

A last-minute replacement at the California Philharmonic’s concert at Santa Anita on Saturday night – necessitated by the orchestra having to scrap their previously scheduled performance of Copland&...

Hold on to your hats music-fans because it’s sure to be an unforgettably wild ride when Maestro Victor Vener and his California Philharmonic are joined by a special guest, acclaimed bass-baritone Cedric Berry, for Cowboys & Copland on July 12, 2014.

A salute to the Wild West, the second concert of the summer season features music from such popular screen classics as “The Magnificent Seven,” “How The West Was Won” and “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” as well as Aaron Copland’s classics “Billy The Kid” and “Rodeo.”

Special guest and audience favorite Berry, who has traveled the world performing a variety of prestigious roles in major operas from Tosca to La Boheme...