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COMING TO RENÉE AND HENRY SEGERSTROM CONCERT HALL:
LARISA MARTÍNEZ WITH OPERA & LATIN AMERICAN FAVORITES (MAY 10)
LOS ANGELES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA PREMIERING CHRISTOPHER CERRONE’S SELAH (MAY 14)
(IRVINE, CA, MARCH 24, 2026)—The Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents an afternoon of art song and Latin American music with acclaimed soprano Larisa Martínez, accompanied by pianist Kamal Khan, and an evening of music with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra conducted by Music Director Jaime Martín featuring the world premiere of Christopher Cerrone’s Selah, alongside music by Mozart and Tchaikovsky. Both concerts will take place at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
On Sunday, May 10, 2026, 3pm, acclaimed soprano Larisa Martínez will perform an afternoon of opera and Latin American favorites, including works by Schubert, Chopin, Villa-Lobos, and Figueroa. Known for her radiant voice and deeply expressive artistry, Martínez takes listeners on a journey of passion, poetry, and vibrant musical storytelling as this program explores love in all its forms, from quiet reflection to exuberant celebration. Martínez first appeared with the Philharmonic Society in 2024 with Joshua Bell in “Voice and the Violin,” marking this performance as her first recital on the Philharmonic Society’s series. This performance is sponsored by the Henry T. & Elizabeth Segerstrom Foundation, with additional concert sponsors Elaine and Carl Neuss, and is also part of the Philharmonic Society’s America@250 Celebration. A pre-concert lecture will take place at 2pm.
Hailed as “resplendent” by the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra returns with Music Director Jaime Martín in an evening of music with works by Mozart and Tchaikovsky on Thursday, May 14, 2026, 8pm. The evening will also feature the world premiere of American composer Christopher Cerrone’s Selah, a double concerto for violin, cello, and chamber orchestra which explores the “virtuosities of listening” through the interplay of soloists Anthony Marwood and Coleman Itzkoff. This concert is part of the Philharmonic Society’s America@250 Celebration. A pre-concert lecture will take place at 7pm by KUSC's Suraj Partha.
Puerto Rican opera singer Larisa Martínez is praised and sought after for her “smoky soprano” (Opera News), gracing top stages and collaborating with household names of today. Martínez has made orchestra appearances with Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, and Indianapolis Symphony. In 2019, she made both her Kennedy Center recital debut and Carnegie Hall debut, singing Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Athens Philharmonic. Internationally, Martínez recently performed as soloist with the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra, and made her debuts at Athens’ Herodeon Theater and Korea’s KSPO Dome. In April, she premiered a new work written for her and violinist Joshua Bell by Academy Award-winning composer John Corigliano.
Martínez is a longtime touring partner of acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli, performing for packed houses including Hollywood Bowl and Madison Square Garden. Her “Voice and the Violin” program, created with Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, has visited the Ravinia Festival, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Verbier Festival, Pacific Symphony, and Colorado Symphony.
Martínez was invited as part of President Barack Obama’s artistic delegation to Cuba in 2016. The visit culminated in the Emmy®-nominated PBS special, Live from Lincoln Center: Seasons of Cuba. Martínez’s operatic roles include Violetta in La Traviata (Wichita Grand Opera), Sophie in Werther alongside tenor Piotr Beczala (Culturarte), and Maria in West Side Story with tenor Michael Fabiano (Festival Napa Valley). She originated the role of Isaura in the world premiere of Mercadante’s Francesca da Rimini in Italy, conducted by Maestro Fabio Luisi. That same year, Martínez won the 2016 Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Audition in Puerto Rico. An advocate for accessible music education, Martínez is an artistic resident of Turnaround Arts, led by the Presidential Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Martínez is additionally passionate about representing her Boricua cultural heritage through projects and performances.
Indian-American conductor and pianist Kamal Khan combines an active performing career with a passionate commitment to the globalization of operatic training. He has led major orchestras and opera companies across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa, appearing at renowned venues from the Metropolitan Opera to Teatro Colón, Tokyo Opera City, and Cape Town Opera. A distinguished collaborator, Khan has performed with many of the world’s leading singers and instrumentalists, including Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, Bryn Terfel, Pretty Yende, and Joshua Bell, in concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Palais Garnier.
Deeply committed to developing young artists, he serves as Visiting Extraordinary Professor at North-West University (South Africa), Artistic Director of Classical Vocal Arts International, and a founding member of Opera for Peace. His teaching affiliations include the Royal Opera House’s Jette Parker Young Artists Program, the Guildhall School, and the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Program. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, Khan began his career as the youngest Assistant Conductor at the Metropolitan Opera, collaborating with legendary conductors such as James Levine and Nello Santi. His extensive repertoire spans the major works of Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Donizetti, as well as contemporary and world premieres, including Dead Man Walking and Five:20 Operas Made in South Africa.
Music Director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra since 2019, and Chief Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 2022, Spanish conductor Jaime Martín has also held the positions of Chief Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland (2019–2024), Principal Guest Conductor of the Spanish National Orchestra (2022–2024), and Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Gävle Symphony Orchestra (2013–2022). In 2024/25, Martín became Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Having spent many years as a highly regarded flautist, Martín turned to conducting full-time in 2013 and quickly became sought after at the highest level. Highlights of last season include a critically acclaimed BBC Proms appearance with BBC NOW and leading an 11-day Beethoven Festival with the Melbourne Symphony, conducting all nine symphonies. He also returned to conduct orchestras in Barcelona, Spain, the U.K., and Australia.
Opening the 2025/26 season, Martín made his debut with the Gothenburg Symphony, followed by a UK and Europe tour with the Melbourne Symphony (their first full international tour since 2019), including stops at the Edinburgh International Festival and BBC Proms. He will also tour with BBC National Orchestra of Wales in Spain and return to the Budapest Festival Orchestra. Further highlights include a debut with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, continuing the season with engagements across major orchestras in Europe, the U.S., and Australasia.
His extensive discography includes recordings with Gävle Symphony, Orquestra de Cadaqués, Barcelona Symphony, London Philharmonic, and recent releases on the Melbourne Symphony label. Martín is Artistic Advisor and former Artistic Director of the Santander Festival and a Fellow of the Royal College of Music, London, where he was a flute professor. The concert appearances of Jaime Martín with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra this season are generously underwritten by the Audre Slater Foundation in honor of Barbara Herman.
LOS ANGELES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (LACO) ranks among the world’s top musical ensembles. Beloved by audiences and praised by critics, the Orchestra is a preeminent interpreter of historical masterworks and, with eight ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming, a champion of contemporary composers. Headquartered in the heart of the country's cultural capital, LACO has been proclaimed “America’s finest chamber orchestra” (Public Radio International), “LA’s most unintimidating chamber music experience” (Los Angeles Magazine), “resplendent” (Los Angeles Times), and “one of the world's great chamber orchestras” (KUSC Classical FM). Performing throughout greater Los Angeles, the Orchestra has made 32 recordings, toured Europe, South America, and Japan, and appeared in concert across North America. www.laco.org
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall is located at 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Tickets are available at the Philharmonic Society box office at
(949) 553-2422, or online at www.philharmonicsociety.org, and at the Center’s box office at (714) 556-2787.
All artists, dates, venues, programs, and prices are subject to change.
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ABOUT THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY:
Founded in 1954 as Orange County’s first music organization, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents national and international performances of the highest quality and provides dynamic and innovative music education programs for individuals of all ages to enhance the lives of Orange County audiences through music.
Since its inception, the Philharmonic Society has evolved and grown with the county’s changing landscape, presenting artists and orchestras who set the standard for artistic achievement from Itzhak Perlman, Gustavo Dudamel, Yo-Yo Ma, and Renée Fleming to the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and many others. In addition, the Philharmonic Society celebrates multi-disciplinary performances under its Eclectic Orange brand and embraces music from a wide range of countries with its World Music performances. Its celebrated concerts introduce children to classical music with creative and inspiring performances, instilling music appreciation for future generations.
The Philharmonic Society’s nationally recognized Youth Music Education Programs, offered free of charge, engage more than 80,000 students annually through curriculum-based music education programs that aim to inspire, expand imaginations, and encourage learning at all levels. These programs are made possible by the Committees of the Philharmonic Society comprised of nearly 450 volunteer members who provide more than 50,000 hours of in-kind service each year. As a key youth program, the exceptional Orange County Youth Symphony and String Ensemble provide top-tier training to the area’s most talented young musicians through multi-level ensemble instruction, leadership training, touring opportunities, challenging professional repertoire, and performances in world-class venues. The Philharmonic Society also promotes life-long learning, connecting with colleges and universities to conduct masterclasses and workshops and providing pre-concert lectures to introduce audiences to program selections.
CONTACT:
Marie Songco-Torres Rosiana Falzon
(949) 553-2422, ext. 230 (949) 553-2422, ext. 105
marie@philharmonicsociety.org rosiana@philharmonicsociety.org