an embarrassment of riches

Once again the combined efforts of the various wonderful
organizations programming classical music in Santa Barbara have
come through with a dazzling array of world‑class talent for the
spring season. Rejoice in the majesty of Beethoven’s Ninth with
Gisèle and the Santa Barbara Symphony, or prepare to be spellbound
by such modern virtuosos as the redoubtable André Watts or the
soon‑to‑be‑huge prodigy Yundi Li.

Songs, Duets, and Broadway Favorites CAMA is
bringing bass Samuel Ramey and the wondrous mezzo soprano Frederica
von Stade — with Martin Katz, piano — to the Arlington stage for a
performance of classic, if not always “classical,” songs by Pauline
Viardot, Jacques Ibert, Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Cole
Porter, Richard Rodgers, Jerome Kern, Stephen Sondheim, and Irving
Berlin. Sat., Apr. 1, 8pm; Arlington Theatre. For season tickets,
call CAMA at 966 4324; for single tickets, call the Arlington at
963 4408.

S.B. Master Chorale Multitalented Phillip
McLendon conducts his Santa Barbara Master Chorale in a performance
of Mikis Theodorakis’s rousing and emotionally shattering “Canto
General” (A Song of the People), with the words of Nobel Prize
winning poet Pablo Neruda. This is a special work — an exciting
blend of Latin American inspired rhythms and melodies with the
stunning poetry of Neruda. The orchestra is a small ensemble of
pianos, guitars, flutes, and percussion. Sat., Apr. 1, 8pm; Sun.,
Apr. 2, 3pm; First Presbyterian Church (State and Constance); 967
8287.

Current Sounds This first Current Sounds
concert of 2006 features the Ojai String Quartet (Yue Deng and Amy
Hagen, violins; Kirsten Monke, viola; Virginia Kron, cello) playing
Mario Lavista’s “Reflejos de la Noche” (1984), William Grant
Still’s “Danzas de Panama” (1953), plus selections from Osvaldo
Golijov’s “Yiddishbbuk: Inscriptions for String Quartet” (1992).
Soprano Agatha Carubia and pianist Seungah Seo return with Elaine
Fine’s 2002 work, “Cante Jondo, Six Poems by Federico Garcia
Lorca.” Pianists Robert Else and Yue Deng perform two works by
Claus Ogermann. Finally, pianist Leslie Hogan and cellist Virginia
Kron will perform works of Chen Yi and Leslie Hogan. Mon., Apr. 3,
8pm; First United Methodist Church, 305 E. Anapamu St.; $10
general, $5 for 17 and under, available at the door only; 964
0308.

Camerata Pacifica Camerata Pacifica invites
back one of its founding members, the dazzling pianist Joanne
Pearce Martin, who, along with violinist Benny Kim, violist Donald
McInnes, and cellist Eric Kim, plays a sparkling program of
brilliant works by Alfred Schnittke, William Bolcom, and Dmitri
Shostakovich. Fri., Apr. 7, 8pm; Victoria Hall Theater; 884
8410.

S.B. Symphony: Gisèlebration #2 Maestra Gisèle
Ben Dor conducts the symphony in the second installment of the
three part Gisèlebration that will mark her farewell to the S.B.
Symphony’s directorship. This program contains Peter Tchaikovsky’s
“Serenade,” Gustav Holst’s “St. Paul Suite,” Ottorino Respighi’s
“Ancient Dances and Airs,” and Astor Piazzolla’s “Bandoneón
Concerto,” with Raul Jaurena, bandoneón. Sat., Apr. 8, 8pm; Sun.,
Apr. 9, 3pm. For season tickets, call the symphony at 898 9386; for
single tickets, call the Arlington at 963 4408.

Yundi Li, piano Supremely gifted young pianist
Yundi Li will bring his Chopin Competition winning chops to
Campbell Hall in April. His program will include Mozart’s Sonata
No. 10 in C Major, K. 330; Schumann’s Carnaval, Op. 9; Chopin’s
Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante, Op. 22; and
Liszt’s Rhapsodie espagnole, S. 254. Tue., Apr. 11, 8pm; UCSB’s
Campbell Hall; 893 3535.

Primavera Festival UCSB’s annual Primavera
Festival is jam packed with four days of events. The concerts begin
with the Ensemble for Contemporary Music in a program titled New
Music: The Gospel According To. Then there is a day of dance from
the UCSB Dance Company, followed by a day devoted to the works of
modern music composer Martino Traversa. The festival concludes with
the California EAR Unit in an exciting program of new works
featuring electronic and acoustic instruments, video, and text.
Wed., Apr. 19 Sat., Apr. 22; Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall; 893 7001
or www.ccs.ucsb.edu/primavera.

Opera in Blue Jeans Following its Puccini
festival, Opera S.B. stages extended highlights from Puccini’s The
Girl of the Golden West. Sat., Apr. 22; Crossroads Barn, Firestone
Vineyards, Los Olivos; 966-2707.

S.B. Symphony: Gisèlebration #3 Ben Dor
conducts her last concert as Music Director of the S.B. Symphony in
the final installment of the three part Gisèlebration. Ben Dor and
her orchestra will team up once again with Joann Wasserman and the
S.B. Choral Society for a spectacular two part program consisting
of Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” and Beethoven’s Symphony
No. 9 in D Minor, Opus 125, “Choral.” Sat., May 6, 8pm; Sun., May
7, 3pm. For season tickets, call the symphony at 898 9386; for
single tickets, call the Arlington at 963 4408.

André Watts, piano UCSB’s Arts & Lectures
presents a special concert by the towering pianist André Watts in a
program that includes Mozart’s Rondo in D, K. 485 and Rondo in A
Minor, K. 511, Beethoven’s Sonata in D, Opus 10, No. 3, Schubert’s
Drei Klavierstücke, D. 946, as well as works by Chopin, Ravel, and
Debussy. Thu., May 18, 8pm; 893 3535.

Quire of Voyces Maestro Nathan Kreitzer and his
superb a cappella chorus, the Quire of Voyces, will go native for
their final concert of the season, with their annual program of
American Choral Music, a musical history of American voices. Sat.,
May 20, 7pm; Sun., May 21, 3pm; St. Anthony’s Seminary Chapel, 2300
Garden St.; 965 5935.