The Santa Monica Symphony hits the road this Saturday, March 14, for a special concert at the historic Wilshire Boulevard Temple.
The concert marks one of the few times that the Santa Monica Symphony has performed outside of Santa Monica’s city limits.
“We are sad that we cannot play this concert in Santa Monica,” said Symphony conductor and music director Guido Lamell. “But with the tragic closing of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium we have lost our home.”
The Symphony’s current home, Barnum Hall, on the campus of Santa Monica High School, was not available to the Symphony for this concert due to conflicts with high school activities.
“We looked long and hard for a venue with first-rate acoustics that could accommodate our audience,” said Lamell. “We are pleased to have found the beautiful Wilshire Boulevard Temple. The newly renovated temple was built in 1929 by Hollywood moguls and is on the National Register of Historic Places.”
On the program for Saturday night’s concert is music befitting its venue: the poignant “Theme from Schindler’s List” and Brahms’ elegant and reflective “Symphony No. 3.” Sharing the concert stage with Maestro Lamell will be Los Angeles Philharmonic violinist Vijay Gupta, the youngest member of the LA Philharmonic and featured soloist, performing Beethoven’s magnificent “Violin Concerto.” Gupta has performed as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician on an international scale since the age of eight and joined the LA Philharmonic in 2007 at age 19.
“This is a rare opportunity to hear a virtuosic violinist play a beautiful concert in a beautiful space,” said Lamell. “It’s worth the trip!”
The concert on Saturday, March 14, begins at 7:30 pm. As with all Santa Monica Symphony concerts, admission is free. The Wilshire Boulevard Temple is located at 3663 Wilshire Blvd., three blocks east of Western Ave. Concert parking is available in the Hanmi Bank building, directly across Wilshire Blvd. from the temple.
The Symphony’s final concert of the 2014-2015 season is Saturday, May 23, at 7:30 pm at Barnum Hall on the campus of Santa Monica High School.
More information is available at www.smsymphony.org or by calling 310.395.6330.
