Stage Director

A glorious and theatrical celebration of the light and enchantment of France and French music, beginning with Debussy’s evocation of a journey to a mysterious island of love, and his witty and charming ballet score for children about the adventures of a box of toys. The program ends with a brilliantly colorful and delightful semi-staging of Ravel’s immortal and much-loved comic fantasy about a naughty child whose toys come to life to punish him.

French Fairytales: Ravel and Debussy

Jacobs Music Center

A new musical-theatrical vision brings color, light and drama to our new hall in a delicious melding of the immortal ballet-music of Prokofiev together with the world-famous poetry of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that inspired it. Chicago-based projections-artist Mike Tutaj will transform the walls and space of the Jacobs Music Center into a magical playground for the imagination. The Russian composer’s glittering orchestration will make our new acoustic chamber tremble like a bell, and a selection of established theatre talents will bring alive the story of this much-loved tragedy of two young lovers destroyed by hate and enmity. Before this, legendary pianist Emanuel Ax will join Rafael Payare and the SDSO for one of the most sumptuous concertos by the most theatrical of all composers, Mozart. A great writer once said, “All Mozart’s concertos are operas in miniature,” and this particular concerto runs the gamut from imperial grandeur and celebration to childlike innocence and sorrow.

Where We Lay Our Scene: A San Diego Symphony Romeo and Juliet

A feast of gorgeous music from Prokofiev’s much-loved 1935 ballet score complete with beautiful projections and excerpts highlighting the immortal story of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Jacobs Music Center will be immersed with beautiful original illustrations and the glorious music of Prokofiev performed by Music Director Rafael Payare and the San Diego Symphony in this achingly familiar story of star-crossed lovers. Created and directed by Gerard McBurney, this spectacular production is not to be missed.

EPSG:4326

Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet - Imagined!

Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Center

A concert in honor and celebration of the playfulness and depth of the “classical music” of the late 18th century. In the first half, concertmaster Jeff Thayer joins music director Rafael Payare and the strings of the orchestra for a violin concerto by the Black French composer, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges (a contemporary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), preceded by Alfred Schnittke's witty reimagining of Mozart's Music for a Pantomime in the style of Haydn. In the second half, the wind instruments of the orchestra give us Mozart's glorious Gran Partita. This was the music, in the film Amadeus, which made Salieri exclaim: "It seemed to me that I was hearing the voice of God."

Stage Director

Gerard McBurney

Events

Past events

3 - 5 Oct, 2025

French Fairytales: Ravel and Debussy · San Diego Symphony

18 - 20 Oct, 2024

Where We Lay Our Scene: A San Diego Symphony Romeo and Juliet · San Diego Symphony

About

Gerard McBurney hasn't added a bio