Pablo Sáinz Villegas to Perform with the Santa Barbara Symphony

Classical guitar master Pablo Sáinz Villegas, hailed by The New York Times for his “virtuosic playing characterized by irresistible exuberance,” will perform Joaquín Rodrigo’s sensuous Concierto de Aranjuez and Isaac Albéniz’s evocative Souvenirs of Spain with the Santa Barbara Symphony at 8 pm on Saturday, November 18, and at 3 pm on Sunday, November 19. Also including suites from Manuel de Falla’s ballet El Amor Brujo and Bizet’s magnificent incidental music for Alphonse Daudet’s play L’arlésienne, the performances will take place at the Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street in Santa Barbara. Priced from $29, tickets can be purchased at thesymphony.org or through the Granada box office, (805) 899-2222.

“The guitar is such a beloved instrument, and yet we don’t often hear it in conjunction with an orchestra. These performances are especially noteworthy in that they’ll feature one of the world’s leading guitar players,” said Maestro Nir Kabaretti, now in his 12th season as the Santa Barbara Symphony’s music director. “Spanish music is always very attractive, with its rhythms and sounds, and the guitar looms large in that musical tradition. In addition to the well-known Aranjuez concerto, which combines beauty and virtuosity, we’ll present the world premiere Patrick Russ’ arrangement of Albéniz’s Souvenirs of Spain.”

The performances on November 18 and 19 will mark the outset of Mr. Villegas’ tenure as the Santa Barbara Symphony’s inaugural artist-in-residence. His related appearances will include a series of educational programs for area children at the Granada Theatre on January 18 and 19.

Mr. Villegas also will perform an intimate solo recital at the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara on November 16. Tickets for this event cost $100 and include a pre-concert reception at 6 pm. Featuring a program of Spanish guitar, the performance will follow at 7:30. Reservations are required. Proceeds will benefit the Santa Barbara Symphony. For tickets and information, call (805) 898-0107. The Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara is located at 123 E. Canon Perdido Street.

Mr. Villegas, whose charismatic stage presence and formidable technique have dazzled audiences throughout much of the world, established his international reputation by winning the gold medal at the inaugural Christopher Parkening International Guitar Competition in 2006. Routinely compared to classical guitar titan Andrés Segovia, he captivated local audiences in a pair of electrifying concerts to conclude the Santa Barbara Symphony’s 2015-16 season. Mr. Villegas has appeared with orchestras in more than 30 countries, and has performed numerous world premieres, including Rounds by five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williams. He is the founder of “The Music Without Borders Legacy,” a nonprofit organization devoted to leveraging the inspirational power of music for the benefit of youth.

Additional highlights of the Santa Barbara Symphony’s 2017-18 season include performances of John Corigliano’s Academy Award-winning score for The Red Violin, accompanied by François Girard’s engrossing film in its entirety and featuring Canadian violinist Lara St. John as soloist (January 20 and 21); a tribute to Leonard Bernstein, including selections from the ballet Fancy Free and his timeless West Side Story, with guest soprano Lisa Vroman and singers from the Santa Barbara Choral Society (February 17 and 18); celebrated Ukrainian pianist Alexander Romanovsky performing Liszt’s innovative first Piano Concerto, followed by Tchaikovsky’s affecting Symphony No. 5 (March 24 and 25); Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 6 (April 21 and 22); and a season-ending program uniting Santa Barbara Symphony Concertmaster Jessica Guideri with acclaimed soloist Anne Akiko Meyers for Vivaldi’s Double Violin Concerto (May 19 and 20). 

Complete season program information is available online at thesymphony.org.