Camerata Pacifica (File Photo – cameratapacifica.org)
Southern California’s Premier Chamber Ensemble Celebrates 36th Season with Diverse Repertoire and Special Projects.
By News Desk
Camerata Pacifica has unveiled its highly anticipated 2025-26 season, promising another thrilling lineup of chamber masterpieces, world premieres, and captivating performances by a roster of international virtuosos. Founder and Artistic Director Adrian Spence leads the way, ensuring the season pushes boundaries while celebrating both the beloved and the unexpected in chamber music.
“We aim to keep audiences on their toes by blending timeless classics with bold, new works,” says Spence. “This season will once again stretch the boundaries of chamber music, offering a vibrant mix of the familiar and the fresh. We’re especially excited to bring our performances to four distinctive Southland venues: the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, Zipper Hall in Downtown L.A., The Huntington in San Marino, and the Janet and Ray Scherr Forum in Thousand Oaks.”
Camerata Pacifica’s 2025-26 season includes eight programs: six chamber concerts and two solo piano recitals, featuring a mix of legacy works, new commissions, and some of the greatest composers in classical music history.
Beethoven 32: A Monumental Three-Year Project
A key highlight of the season is the launch of Beethoven 32, a three-year initiative to perform all 32 of Beethoven’s piano sonatas. Principal pianist Gilles Vonsattel, acclaimed for his deeply expressive performances, will take the lead, performing twelve of these iconic works this season. The program will feature a combination of solo recitals and chamber music collaborations, offering audiences a chance to experience Beethoven’s genius in its entirety.
“Beethoven’s sonatas are not just an intellectual feat; they carry profound humanity and artistic richness that resonate deeply,” says Spence. The Beethoven 32 initiative will span the entire season, giving audiences the opportunity to dive deep into the full spectrum of the composer’s genius.
World Premieres and Contemporary Masterpieces
This season also places a strong emphasis on contemporary compositions. Camerata Pacifica will present the world premiere of a new wind quintet by British composer David Bruce, commissioned by the ensemble. Known for his vibrant and colorful works, Bruce’s music draws inspiration from folk traditions like flamenco, klezmer, and gypsy music—promising to be a striking addition to the chamber repertoire.
Other contemporary highlights include Kenji Bunch’s genre-defying Transcontinental for violin and percussion quartet, Thierry De Mey’s Musique de Table—a percussion ensemble piece where small tables serve as instruments—and María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir’s Aequora, a unique blend of grand piano and electronics.
Additional modern gems include Castillo Interior by Latvian composer Peteris Vasks, a deeply emotional violin and cello duet, and Musique de Table by Thierry De Mey, featuring four percussionists performing with only tables as instruments.
A Stellar Cast of Guest Artists
The 2025-26 season will also feature a remarkable roster of guest artists, including several new faces. Joining Camerata Pacifica will be David Byrd-Marrow, renowned horn soloist with the International Contemporary Ensemble; Eleni Katz, a highly regarded bassoonist; and Melia Badalian, principal horn with the Long Beach and Modesto symphonies.
Returning guest artists include violinists Paul Huang and Alena Hove, violist Meredith Crawford, cellists Ani Aznavoorian and Santiago Cañón-Valencia, and flutist Sébastian Jacot, praised as a “flute rock star” by his peers. Several percussionists will make their Camerata Pacifica debuts, including Ayano Kataoka and Svet Stoyanov, alongside returning percussionist Jason Treuting, known for his work with the influential Sō Percussion quartet.
Season Highlights
- Opening Concert (September 2025): A celebration of string chamber music featuring Brahms’ String Sextet in G Major, Arensky’s mournful String Quartet in A Minor, and Peteris Vasks’ Castillo Interior for violin and cello.
- October/November 2025: Camerata Pacifica’s Beethoven 32 project continues with Principal Pianist Gilles Vonsattel performing the monumental Hammerklavier Sonata, paired with Mozart’s Serenade for Wind Octet and Chopin’s Nocturne.
- January 2026: Four stunning works for piano and viola, including Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 27 and Schumann’s Märchenbilder, performed by violist Che-Yen Chen and Principal Pianist Gilles Vonsattel.
- March 2026: The world premiere of David Bruce’s Wind Quintet, along with works by Chaminade, Dvořák, and a trio of wind instruments performed by some of the finest musicians in the field.
- April 2026: The second recital of the Beethoven 32 cycle, featuring Sonatas No. 7, 24, and 28, performed by Gilles Vonsattel.
- May 19: The season will culminate in a dazzling performance blending Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 2 with a percussion-heavy lineup featuring works by Kenji Bunch and Thierry De Mey.
Ticket Information
Camerata Pacifica’s 2025-26 season is an event you won’t want to miss. Tickets are now available for individual concerts ($75-$83) and subscriptions, starting at $300. For more information on performances and to purchase tickets, visit Camerata Pacifica’s official website.
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