The San Diego Symphony takes its concerts outside every summer starting the July 4th weekend through Labor Day. One of our favorite local traditions is grabbing a lawn chair, blanket and glass of champagne, and soaking up the Symphony’s beautiful sounds with a view of the San Diego Bay. Today, the Symphony announced their new season, and we’re already daydreaming of summer. Here are some of the highlights we’re looking forward to:
The Tux ‘n Tennies Summer Bash will kick off the summer lineup with a throwback tribute to the Beach Boys June 27.
On Fourth of July weekend, conductor Bill Conti will lead the Star Spangled Pops. Native San Diegan Jessica Sanchez, who you might remember from TV’s American Idol, will also be performing as a special guest.
Stick around to watch fireworks after the Star Spangled Pops and after every weekend show of the season.
Just in time for Comic-Con, a surprising symphony of Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions will be performed on July 9 and the musical score from Star Trek: Into Darkness on July 11.
Pops will also include shows from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy July 17, 18 and The Divas of Disco July 24.
Remember those classic Looney Tunes at the 25th anniversary of Bugs Bunny at the Symphony II. Cartoons of Bugs Bunny will accompany the classical music on July 26.
Singer-songwriter Ben Folds, former member of the alternative-rock group Ben Folds Five, is bringing his solo pop hits to the symphony on July 30.
Hooray for Hollywood begins with a night of those soundtracks that everyone remembers from Star Wars, James Bond and Psycho. Then pick up a bag of popcorn before watching the full-length feature film, Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest accompanied, you guessed it, by the San Diego Symphony on July 31 and August 1.
Broadway veterans take the stage for a Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration on August 7 and 8, remembering the musical creators in a revival of the favorites South Pacific, The King and I and Oklahoma.
Ol’ Blue Eyes is back for the Frank Sinatra At 100 on August 14 and 15. Sung by Sinatra vocalist, Cary Hoffman, the night will feature Fly Me to the Moon, Strangers in the Night and My Way.
Next, stay tuned for Burt Bacharach and his trio August 16 and LeAnn Rimes rich vocal sounds August 21 and 22.
Jason Alexander, who you know as George Costanza from TV’s Seinfeld, is now performing in an all-new way. Hear his musical theater songs for one night only on August 23.
The summer series will wrap up with the 1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular September 4, 5 and 6.
The full schedule, at a glance:
June 27
Tux ‘n Tennies: A Tribute to The Beach Boys
Featuring Papa Doo Run Run
July 3, 4 & 5
Star Spangled Pops
Conducted by Bill Conti
July 9
Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions
July 11
Star Trek: Into Darkness
Conducted by David Newman
July 17, 18
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Conducted by Matthew Garbutt
July 24, 25
The Divas of Disco with Radiance
Conducted by Matthew Garbutt
July 26
Bugs Bunny at the Symphony II
Conducted by George Daugherty
July 30
Ben Folds Live
July 31, August 1
Hooray for Hollywood!
Conducted by Thomas Wilkins
August 2
Pops Goes Classical—Passport to the World: A Night in Spain
Conducted by Matthew Garbutt
August 7, 8
Broadway: A Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration
Conducted by Randall Craig Fleischer
August 9
Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Conducted by Richard Kaufman
August 14, 15
Sinatra at 100
Conducted by Bill Conti
August 16
Burt Bacharach
Conducted by Burt Bacharach and Matthew Garbutt
August 20
Esperanza Spalding
Conducted by Matthew Garbutt
August 21, 22
LeAnn Rimes
Conducted by Matthew Garbutt
August 23
Jason Alexander
Conducted by Matthew Garbutt
August 27
Tribute to Journey
Conducted by Matthew Garbutt
August 28, 29
A Night of Classic Rock
Conducted by Matthew Garbutt
September 4, 5 & 6
1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular
This Just In: Summer Pops Season Announced
David Hartig
