Maestro Nir Kabaretti at Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Maestro Nir Kabaretti at Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Maestro Nir Kabaretti at Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders 
Santa Barbara Symphony’s ‘An American in Paris’ at the Granada Theatre, April 19, 2026 | Photo: Elaine Sanders
For the April edition of the current Santa Barbara Symphony season, the focus turned inward, towards musical things American. The orchestra, led by Nir Kabaretti, performed the classic George Gershwin jazz-meets-classical work An American in Paris, as well as the maverick American genius Charles Ives’s Three Places in New England, but also dipped into contemporary fare, opening the concert with Jennifer Higdon’s 1999-vintage blue cathedral.
Another beloved piece of American symphonic music, Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto, featured the ascending young violinist sensation Alexi Kenney, making his third local appearance, following notice-earning appearances at the Ojai Music Festival and at Hahn Hall with the chamber group Owls, last year.
