Press Release
SEONG-JIN CHO & CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER TO ENCHANT AUDIENCES AT SOKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THIS DECEMBER!
IRVINE, CA— Seong-Jin Cho, praised by Washington Post for having “the musical potential to take his place alongside the greats of the past,” and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS), hailed as “One of the world’s most distinguished chamber ensembles” by Star Tribune, perform in Orange County this December. These events, co-presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Soka Performing Arts Center, will take place on December 5, 2023, and December 9, 2023, at Soka Performing Arts Center. Seong-Jin Cho will perform works by Mozart, Ravel and Liszt; The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will perform arguably the greatest of all baroque concertos, The Complete Brandenburg Concerti by Bach.
Seong-Jin cho was brought to the world’s attention in 2015 when he won First Prize at the Chopin International Competition in Warsaw, and his career has rapidly ascended ever since. In January 2016, he signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon and has established himself worldwide as one of the leading pianists of his generation and most distinctive artists on the current music scene. His thoughtful and poetic, assertive and tender, virtuosic and colorful playing combines confidence with purity and is driven by an impressive natural sense of balance.
An active recitalist, Seong‐Jin Cho performs in many of the world’s most prestigious concert halls including the main stage of Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Berliner Philharmonie, Konzerthaus Vienna, Prinzregententheater München, Suntory Hall Tokyo, Walt Disney Hall Los Angeles, Festival International de piano de la Roque d'Anthéron, and Verbier Festival.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center is one of eleven constituents of the largest performing arts complex in the world. Through its many performance, education, recording, and broadcast activities, it brings the exhilarating experience of great chamber music to more people than any other organization of its kind. Under the inspired leadership of Co-Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han, CMS presents a wide variety of concert series and educational events for listeners of all ages, appealing to both connoisseurs and newcomers. CMS will perform Bach’s complete Brandenburg Concertos.
Today, arguably the greatest of all baroque concertos, Bach's six masterpieces have delighted audiences for centuries with their timeless creativity, lively instrumentation, and technical mastery. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos give each instrumental family solo opportunities and create unusual combinations. Each of the six concertos differs, from the galumphing first, the more stately second, the homely third, the lofty fourth and the galloping fifth right through to the joyous sixth.
Soka Performing Arts Center is located at 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. Ticket prices start at $50 for Seong-Jin Cho and $45 for Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and are available at the Philharmonic Society box office at (949) 553-2422, online at www.philharmonicsociety.org, at the Soka box office at (949) 480-4278 and online at performingarts.soka.edu.
ABOUT THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY:
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 family 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 100,000 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 500 volunteer members who provide more than 90,000 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 by connecting with colleges and universities to conduct masterclasses and workshops and providing pre-concert lectures to introduce audiences to program selections.
ABOUT SOKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER:
Soka Performing Arts Center is located on the beautiful hilltop campus of Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo. Our facility includes the 1,032-seat Concert Hall featuring world-class acoustics designed by master acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota, designer of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Suntory Hall in Tokyo, among many others. We also have an intimate 350-seat Black Box Theatre that allows for multiple seating configurations including club seating with bistro tables.
More than 750 performances have taken place since the center’s dedication on May 27, 2011. The 2023-24 season marks our twelfth season presenting first-class programming in our world-class concert hall. We are continuing to expand our programming and outreach with the addition of a Children’s Concert Series, Blues Festival, and the only Great Pianists Series on the West Coast. From classical and jazz to world and contemporary music, the Soka Performing Arts Center has become a prized space for artists and audiences alike.
We are proud to be the home of the Pacific Symphony Chamber Orchestra. Our Sundays @ Soka Series with Pacific Symphony continues to be one of our most popular series year after year. Our presentations with other Orange County arts organizations have enabled us to reach further into our community to offer arts education and programming. Our partnership with the Philharmonic Society of Orange County includes our PSOC Series, which brings superlative artists to our stage. We also partner with PSOC for our Outreach Program, bringing over 7,000 school children to Soka Performing Arts Center to experience live performances with outstanding musicians.
With its world-class acoustics and first-class performances, Soka Performing Arts Center is quickly becoming one of the cultural jewels of Orange County.
To Engage, Educate, and Elevate the Human Spirit…
Soka Performing Arts Center strives to elevate humanity through transcendent experiences. Come experience our exquisite acoustics. Come to expand your understanding and appreciation of music. Come to forge community and emotional connections through the shared experience of live music. Come to Listen. Feel. Transform.
CONTACTS:
Adaora Onyebeke
(949) 553-2422, ext. 105
adaora@philharmonicsociety.org
Marie Songco-Torres
(949) 553-2422, ext. 230