Mozart’s Requiem A Santa Barbara Symphony Matinee Masterpiece

A Musical Journey of Heaven and Earth

During an extraordinary Santa Barbara Symphony matinee program on Sunday, November 16th, the audience found themselves spanning centuries and styles, while experiencing a unique opportunity to travel on a moving Mozart journey of heaven and earth that was truly breathtaking.

From the first note, Aaron Jay Kernis’ Musica Celestis transported guests to the heavens where violin strings shimmered like angelic voices. In an imaginative new work, everyone experienced the timbral interplay between Swedish brass virtuoso Christian Lindberg and The Symphony’s own principal trombonist Dillon MacIntyre on Andrea Tarrodi’s Double Trombone Concerto. According to Conductor Kabaretti, “Mozart originally wrote the Requiem for trombones, however, that interpretation was never included.” This combination of timbral and trombones Nir Kabaretti included in this concert was fascinating and delightfully unique orchestrated with the coral and symphony elements.

It was an unforgettable experience of the co-mingling of amazing musical sounds and voices as Maestro Nir Kabaretti skillfully lead nearly 200 performers, the Santa Barbara Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus, and a stellar cast of talented soloists who  took the audience on a deeply moving Requiem journey, a final testament to the masterpiece Mozart sadly would never live to complete. A presentation masterpiece that was mesmerizing, hopeful, soulful and uplifting all at once.

The standing ovation finale, where everyone celebrated the greatness of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the greatness of the exceptional collection of talent on the Granada stage, as well as the conducting skill of Maestro Nir Kabaretti was simply stunning.

Nir Kabaretti, Conductor, Christian Lindberg (voted the greatest brass player in history by the world’s largest classical radio station Classic-FM) &  Dillon MacIntire, Trombones, Anastasia Malliaras, soprano, Christina Pezzarossi, mezzo-soprano, Andrew Gilstrap, bass-baritone, Brad Bickhardt, Tenor and Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus gave magical performances that enabled the audience to feel every note and emotion of  this presentation made possible through Aaron Jay Kernis, Musica Celestis, Andrea Tarrodi, Double Trombone Concerto (co-commissioned by The Symphony and Tonhalle Dusseldorf. Dedicated to Christian Lindberg, Daniel Tellez Gutierrez, Dillon Macintyre).

Huge kudos to the sponsors for this unforgettable afternoon performance who   included principal sponsor Sarah & Roger Chrisman, Choral sponsors Anonymous, Marilyn & Richard Mazess, Selection sponsors Eve Bernstein, Davis & Bobsey Fansler, Chris Lanchahire, Jean Rogers, Howard Jay Smith & Tricia Bivans Dixon. Corporate Sponsor 2025/26 Season Sarah & Roger Chrisman, Corporate Sponsor 2025/26 Season Montecito Bank & Trust, Grand Venue Sponsor 2025/26 The Granada Theatre.

For upcoming Santa Barbara schedule or ticket purchase contact Granada Box Office 805-899-2222 or www.thesymphony.org.