Robert Istad is a distinguished conductor known for his innovative interpretations and deep engagement with choral music. With a rich background in the performing arts, Istad has led numerous notable productions, including the acclaimed concert Songs of the Soul, which featured works by Paul Fowler and Frank Martin. This performance showcased a captivating exploration of spirituality through music, highlighting Fowler's wordless Calling and Martin's masterful Latin Mass. Istad's ability to bring together diverse musical perspectives has earned him recognition in the choral community. His repertoire also includes the evocative We Bloomed in Spring by Edie Hill, further demonstrating his versatility and commitment to contemporary choral works. As he continues to shape the future of choral music, Istad is set to embark on exciting new projects that promise to further enrich the cultural landscape. His dedication to fostering artistic expression and collaboration positions him as a leading figure in the world of choral conducting.

Conductor

Artistic Director

A celebration of brotherhood and humanity. Beethoven’s crowning achievement—a monumental fusion of soloists, chorus and music all set to Schiller’s magnificent “Ode to Joy.”

EPSG:4326

Ode to Joy

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

A celebration of brotherhood and humanity. Beethoven’s crowning achievement—a monumental fusion of soloists, chorus and music all set to Schiller’s magnificent “Ode to Joy.”

You'll not only get to enjoy the music but also commentary from the stage as Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair guides you through the piece.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Beethoven’s crowning achievement—a monumental fusion of soloists, chorus, and music all set to Schiller’s magnificent “Ode to Joy.” When it premiered in 1824, conducted by Beethoven himself, he heard not a note, so profoundly deaf was he by then

Beethoven's Ninth

Beethoven’s crowning achievement—a monumental fusion of soloists, chorus and music all set to Schiller’s magnificent “Ode to Joy.” When it premiered in 1824, conducted by Beethoven himself, he heard not a note, so profoundly deaf was he by then.

When purchasing a ticket to a Clayes Performing Arts Center event, you agree to adhere to all COVID-19 safety entry requirements in effect at the time of the event.

University Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Chorus perform Mozart's "Requiem"

California State University, Fullerton

Everything great opera should have: gorgeous music, high emotion, and grand tragedy! Carefree Bohemians and star-struck lovers—penniless, hungry, and ailing—fill the concert hall with their astonishing voices as Puccini’s heart-rending tale unfolds

La Bohème

Everything great opera should have: gorgeous music, high emotion, and grand tragedy! Carefree Bohemians and star-struck lovers—penniless, hungry and ill—fill the concert hall with their astonishing voices as Puccini’s heart-rending tale unfolds.

Everything great opera should have: gorgeous music, high emotion and grand tragedy! Carefree Bohemians and star-struck lovers—penniless, hungry and ill—fill the concert hall with their astonishing voices as Puccini’s heart-rending tale unfolds.

Join us for Pacific Symphony’s annual festivities honoring the Lunar New Year! Celebrating the Year of the Dragon, this performance is sure to sell out once again as audiences from across our communities come together to feast on a colorful presentation of Eastern and Western music and dance.


Lunar New Year

The Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall rings with the sounds of holiday cheer when the Grammy-winning Pacific Chorale presents its annual extravaganza! One of Orange County’s favorite musical traditions, Tis the Season! offers a selection of holiday favorites seasoned with delightful surprises in a concert the entire family can enjoy

Tis the Season!

A timeless masterwork that transcends three centuries of fads and fashions, Handel's "Messiah" is an event of joy, reflection, and renewal. Thrill to blazing trumpets, thundering timpani and the electrifying, uplifting "Hallelujah" chorus!

Handel's Glorious Messiah

Gustav Holst’s fan-favorite The Planets offers an out-of-this-world journey, exploring the astrological personalities that inhabit our solar system, from the combative Mars to the joyful Jupiter and the mysterious Neptune. Philip Glass’ First Violin Concerto, like the composer himself, embraced taboo and broke many unwritten rules, but its pulsing minimalistic language and interplay between orchestra and soloist made it one of his most popular works.

The Planets

Hollywood Bowl

The New York Times calls Scottish composer Sir James MacMillan as “ceaselessly inventive, evocative and penetrating.” He joins Pacific Symphony on a spiritual journey with his major commission “Fiat Lux” (“Let There Be Light”), a perfect pairing to Strauss’ eternal tone poem “Death and Transfiguration.”

Cathedrals of Sound

A lecherous Duke, who lives to take his pleasure. His twisted court jester, who lives to take his revenge. Carl St.Clair conducts this season’s semi-staged opera production: Verdi’s Rigoletto, the composer’s masterpiece of duplicity and deception. A full theatrical experience in the splendor of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Verdi's Rigoletto

Welcome the Year of the Rabbit with our annual Lunar New Year celebration featuring joyous music, festive dance and a delightful fusion of musical traditions from East and West. Music Director Carl St.Clair conducts.

The greatest story ever told. The most majestic music ever conceived. Experience music’s most inspiring message of faith. This is the “Messiah” of the season — and Orange County’s favorite holiday musical tradition. Rejoice greatly!

Majestic in its scope. Dazzling in its sound. There is nothing to match the experience of hearing The Planets live in concert. Experience the ultimate trip through the galaxy as Pacific Symphony performs Gustav Holst’s sonic celestial showpiece. Acclaimed violinist Stefan Jackiw performs the spirited Scottish Fantasy of Max Bruch. “His astonishing gifts, and musicality and technical finesse place him at the top of his peers,” raves The Seattle Times. These concerts begin with the lyrical PIVOT from one of today’s leading English composers, Anna Clyne. 

Experience Miloš Forman’s multi-Academy Award®-winning phenomenon Amadeus (1984) while the Los Angeles Philharmonic performs the score of Mozart’s celebrated works live to picture.

Amadeus LIVE in Concert

Maestro Carl St.Clair and Marco Barricelli, who played Salieri in South Coast Repertory's 2016 production of Amadeus (and replaces the previously announced David Ivers), explore Mozart’s “Requiem” — one of the most enigmatic pieces ever composed, mainly due to the myths and controversies surrounding it. Mozart’s “Requiem,” which was left unfinished at the time of the composer’s death, now enjoys an elevated status as one of the most magnificent achievements in sacred music. Featuring the Grammy Award-winning Pacific Chorale.

Mozart's Requiem

The incredible story of genius musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, told in flashback by his peer and secret rival Antonio Salieri—now confined to an insane asylum. Adapted from the Tony Award-winning play and Oscar-winning movie Amadeus by Peter Shaffer, Mozart & Salieri includes a complete performance of Mozart’s Requiem—featuring the Grammy Award-winning Pacific Chorale—Don Giovanni Overture and other selections. Marco Barricelli (replacing the previously announced David Ivers) stars as Salieri, the role he incorporated in South Coast Repertory's 2016 production of Amadeus.

Mozart & Salieri

Love, betrayal and jealousy – all trademarks of great tragic opera – Otello embraces these themes to the fullest. Written decades after going into retirement, Verdi’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s tale takes you on a journey through a passionate romance destroyed by one of opera’s most loathsome villains.

Verdi's Otello

Two works for double choir—Paul Fowler’s wordless, hypnotic Calling and Frank Martin’s masterful setting of the Latin Mass—bookend an evening of music exploring the world of the spirit from many perspectives.

Songs of the Soul

Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church

Join us for Pacific Symphony’s annual festivities honoring the Lunar New Year! Celebrating the Year of the Tiger, this performance is sure to sell out once again as audiences from across our communities come together to feast on a colorful presentation of Eastern and Western music and dance.

Experience the multi-Academy Award®-winning 1984 film Amadeus under the stars with the Los Angeles Philharmonic performing the score of Mozart’s celebrated works live.

Amadeus Live in Concert

Wolfgang comes to life in this all-Mozart evening!  Maestro St.Clair conducts the legendary composer’s charming overture to <em>Don Giovanni</em> and the gloriously dark and transcendent Requiem, interspersed with a portrayal of his greatest rival, Antonio Salieri, performed by SCR Artistic Director David Ivers.

The Mozart Project

Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night's Dream

**Event: Carmina Burana by Pacific Symphony**

**Date & Time:** Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 3:00 pm

**Location:** Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

**Description:**

Prepare for an unforgettable afternoon as the Pacific Symphony, under the baton of Music Director Carl St.Clair, presents Carl Orff's monumental "Carmina Burana." This performance, featuring the Grammy Award-winning Pacific Chorale, along with the artistic direction of Robert Istad, and the Southern California Children's Chorus under the founding direction of Lori Loftus, promises to be a spectacular showcase of vocal and orchestral prowess.

"Carmina Burana" is renowned for its powerful and evocative music, celebrating the joys and sorrows of life through the lens of medieval poetry. From the iconic opening of "O Fortuna" to the vibrant scenes of springtime, tavern revelry, and the Court of Love, audiences will be transported through a whirlwind of emotions and scenes, all underscored by Orff's thrilling compositions.

This performance is unique not only for its musical excellence but also for the insightful commentary provided by Carl St.Clair, offering audiences a deeper understanding of the masterpiece before it unfolds on stage. This concert is a journey through the most celebrated drinking establishments of the 13th century, a rambunctious romp without the hangover, where the concert hall transforms into the bawdiest watering hole in town.

**Program:**
- ORFF: Carmina Burana

**Note:** This concert is performed without intermission.

Join us for an afternoon of raucous revelry, timeless music, and the unparalleled talent of the Pacific Symphony and its choruses. It's more than a concert; it's an experience that promises to be as enlightening as it is entertaining. Don't miss your chance to be part of this epic musical journey.

Carmina Burana

Join us for a transformative musical experience as the Pacific Symphony presents "re-Discover Verdi's Requiem" on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. This concert promises to be anything but ordinary, offering a fresh and audacious interpretation of Verdi's masterpiece under the baton of Music Director Carl St.Clair.

Event Details:
- **Date:** Sunday, June 8, 2025
- **Time:** 3:00 pm
- **Location:** Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Prepare to be captivated by a performance where the sacred text of the Requiem meets the dramatic intensity of opera. Carl St.Clair's insightful commentary will peel back the layers of Verdi's composition, providing a deeper understanding of the music before it fills the hall. The concert will feature the powerful forces of the Pacific Symphony and the Pacific Chorale, led by artistic director Robert Istad, in a seamless presentation without intermission.

The program centers on Verdi's "Messa da Requiem," a piece renowned for its profound emotional depth and dramatic range. From the terrifying "Dies irae" to the ethereal "Sanctus" and the impassioned plea of the "Libera me," this performance is set to be an unforgettable journey through the extremes of human emotion.

This unique event is not just a concert but an immersive experience that redefines Verdi's Requiem. It's an opportunity to witness the fusion of sacred music and operatic drama, brought to life by a conductor and musicians who dare to explore beyond the traditional boundaries of classical music.

Don't miss this chance to experience Verdi's Requiem as you've never heard it before.

Robert Istad

Conductor, Artistic Director

Events

Upcoming events

Mar 2, 2025

Carmina Burana · Pacific Symphony

Jun 8, 2025

re-Discover Verdi's Requiem · Pacific Symphony

Past events

Jun 9, 2024

Ode to Joy · Pacific Symphony

Jun 9, 2024

Ode to Joy · Segerstrom Center For The Arts

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in Messiah by Handel

Pacific Symphony

Conductor in Miserere mei, Deus by Allegri

Pacific Symphony

Conductor in Death and Transfiguration by Strauss

Pacific Symphony

Conductor in Fiat Lux by MacMillan

Pacific Symphony

Conductor in Calling by Fowler

Pacific Chorale

Conductor in We Bloomed in Spring by Hill

Pacific Chorale

Conductor in On Leaving by Grigorjeva

Pacific Chorale

Conductor in and the swallow by Shaw

Pacific Chorale

Conductor in Spiritus Mundi by Trumbore

Pacific Chorale

Conductor in Mass for Double Choir by Martin

Pacific Chorale

About

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