Cornucopia of Classical Concerts

We’re stretching things to suggest Camerata Pacifica is a community organization. Though it was founded and is still based here, most of the principal players live elsewhere. But tried and true Santa Barbara-via-Ireland import Adrian Spence is still the mastermind, as evidenced by pianist Gilles Vonsattel’s presence at Hahn Hall on April 10 for a second solo recital in three weeks. Vonsattel sizes up three more of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, closing out Year 1 of “Beethoven 32.” As you may recall, that is the chamber music collective’s three-year cycle featuring Vonsattel playing all of the composer’s sonatas for the instrument. On the docket: “Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3,” an often-overlooked gem filled with emotional exploration; “No. 24 in F-sharp Major, Op. 78, ‘à Thérèse,’” said to be one of the composer’s favorites; and “Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101,” a latter work that evokes mystery and the divine. 

Visit www.cameratapacifica.org

Also heading to Hahn Hall for one of their periodic performances in that acoustically superior setting is Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, the L.A.-based ensemble composed of professional musicians looking for opportunities to perform self-curated programs in smaller formats. On the docket on April 13 are Philip Glass’ “Quartet Satz” and Beethoven’s “String Quartet No. 14 in C# Minor, Op. 131” sandwiched around Rhiannon Giddens’ “At the Purchaser’s Option” with variations, an instrumental adaptation of a song from her album Freedom Highway, and “Amrit” by Kala Ramnath, a work that reimagines the expressive depth of Hindustani music through the voice of the string quartet. 

Info and tickets at www.kco.la

Coming from the Community

The Santa Barbara Music Club’s free April concert brings Mozart’s “Clarinet Quintet in A Major,” Sergei Bortkiewicz’s “Sonata for Violin and Piano,” and Mykola Lysenko’s “Second Rhapsody on Ukrainian Themes”together on a single program at 3 pm April 11 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 4575 Auhay Drive. Violinists Myroslava Khomik, Nicole McKenzie, and Kristine Pacheco; violist Susannah Hoffman, cellist Katherine Mendenhall; clarinetist David Singer; and pianist Myroslava Kisilevitch are this month’s musicians. 

Visit https://sbmusicclub.org

The Santa Barbara Chamber Players hit Hahn Hall at 7:30 pm on April 11 for their spring concert featuring Emmanuel Fratianni conducting the West Coast premiere of Tulio Cremisini’s “Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra,” featuring the composer – who is Composer in Residence and Principal Timpanist with the Miami Symphony Orchestra – as soloist. Also on the program: Debussy’s “Petite Suite” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21.” 

Info at https://sbchamberplayers.org

The Santa Barbara Master Chorale activates audio for animation in its ambitious concert called “Dare to Dream: beloved Disney songs that ignite imagination and inspire every dreamer.” Children of all ages are encouraged to dress as their favorite Disney character for the family-friendly celebration of music that evokes the beloved Disney canon. From the sweeping African landscapes of The Lion King to the icy magic of Frozen, the concert visits the vibrant rhythms of Encanto and Coco, touching on both heartfelt ballads and show-stopping ensemble numbers. The songs that will be featured in the pair of performances – 7:30 pm on April 11 and 3 pm on April 12 – were pointedly chosen for their themes of courage, friendship, love, and imagination. 

Details at www.sbmasterchorale.org