World-Renowned Artists Fill Orange County Phil’s Calendar

In February 2022, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Calif. will culminate with a performance by the London Symphony Orchestra and famed conductor Sir Simon Rattle. (Courtesy of Mark Allan)

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Calif. has announced programming for its 2021-22 season filled with live orchestral, chamber, recital, and eclectic performances by some of the world’s greatest artists and ensembles.

Performances are scheduled to take place live at venues throughout Orange County, including the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and Samueli Theater in Costa Mesa, Irvine Barclay Theatre in Irvine, and Soka Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo.

“We just wrapped up our spring season with a performance by renowned soprano Renee Fleming, and we look forward to experiencing the live and in-person performances in our 2021-2022 season,” Philharmonic Society president and artistic director Tommy Phillips said in a statement.

“While we are rejoicing in this return to ‘normal,’ we also are finding a new appreciation for the essential role music plays in our community.”

The 2021-22 season features the returns of favorites such as violinist Pinchas Zukerman, sibling cello-piano duo Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason, early music champions English Baroque Soloists with Sir John Eliot Gardiner, the Danish String Quartet, and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

Several artists and group will make their Philharmonic Society debuts including the eclectic Danish folk group Dreamers’ Circus, Casals Quartet, and classical and jazz pianist Aaron Diehl.

The season will open in September with a recital by rising-star cellist Zlatomir Fung, gold medalist at the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition.

The fall lineup will include performances by groups such as Les Violons Du Roy with mandolinist Avi Avital, Chamber Music Society at Lincoln Center playing the full Brandenburg Concerti, and the Modigliani Quartet.

To celebrate the 2021 holidays, the Vienna Boys Choir will appear in a program of Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces, Christmas hymns, and holiday carols.

Several renowned international orchestras will make their return to Orange County beginning in January with a performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and pianist Olga Kern.

In February, the Philharmonic Society welcomes back the Russian National Orchestra with its music director Mikhail Pletnev as piano soloist, followed by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields with violinist Joshua Bell in March, and culminating with a performance by the London Symphony Orchestra and famed conductor Sir Simon Rattle.

The Philharmonic Society’s Eclectic Orange offerings include performances by pianist-composer Gabriela Montero, the quirky and free-spirited Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, bassist Edgar Meyer and the Scottish Ensemble, and a celebration of Astor Piazzolla’s centennial with violinist Philippe Quint and members of the Joffrey Ballet.

Founded in 1954 by a group of music lovers wanting to spread a love of classical music, the orchestra eventually evolved into the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and is now strictly a music presenter. The Phil is Orange County’s third oldest arts group and first music organization ever to be formed.

Today, the Philharmonic Society is able to present world-renowned national and international performances throughout the region, as well as offering its nationally recognized youth music education programs free of charge to Orange County schools, children and parents, reaching more the 100,000 students from kindergarten through high school.