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Customer Reviews for Symphony Silicon Valley

Symphony Silicon Valley

Read Symphony Silicon Valley reviews and post your own reviews and ratings.

Average rating:

4.4

(107 Reviews) 107

Rating Snapshot (107 reviews)

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99 of 107(93%)customers would recommend this to a friend.

Symphony Silicon Valley Fan Reviews - Ticketmaster

Review 1 for Symphony Silicon Valley

5 / 5

Great stories by different & unique composers!

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Jan 10, 2010 @

Favorite moment: closing sequences of Lee's and Rimsky-Korsakov's pieces where the "softs" were done so well by the soloists @

Posted 01/11/2010

by CealSJ

Location:San Jose CA

Featured Review

Each piece in this performance told a story: one of growing up in China during a turbulent time through a modern orchestra and ancient Chinese instruments with evocative sounds, another by a mesmerizing violin in Scheherazade, and the first one was about a woman killed for naught by unfounded suspicions written by Rossini.

Wonderful contrasts across three widely different music styles, but showing how music can tell us stories.

Well performed, Mayforth in solo violin and then blending into the violins, just like Scheherazade in the story, with Gelfand, Corner, Kramer, and Hakl providing lovely supportive solos. The three soloists for Gordon Lee's "Young Impressions of the Old City" were marvelous: I hope to hear more of these instruments, new to me, in the future. All conducted smoothly by Paul Polivnick, bringing passion to the fore.

Loved the concert!

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Jan 10, 2010 @

Favorite moment: closing sequences of Lee's and Rimsky-Korsakov's pieces where the "softs" were done so well by the soloists @

1 of 1 found this review helpful.

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Review 2 for Symphony Silicon Valley

4 / 5

American Music at Its Best

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, May 12, 2013 @

Favorite moment: My favorite moment was the unexpected mid-program encore of the Bach partita for violin. @

Posted 05/14/2013

by RevRichard

Location:Campbell, California

It was grand way to celebrate Mother's Day: sitting by my wife of 44 years and enjoying some of our absolutely favorite music--played warmly and competently by our Symphony Silicon Valley. We are blessed to have such a fine regional orchestra close to us...and in the shadow of MTT and the SFSO.

John Adams' "The Chairman Dances" is a demanding piece, both for the musicians and for the audience. Minimalist compositions are on the whole, I think, an acquired taste. But once on board with Adams' relatively narrow range of musical line and his amazing use of rhythm and percussion, the listener is rewarded with a an unrivaled experience of contemporary sound.

Though Andres Cardenas is no Jascha Heifitz (who played the premier of this piece in 1947), his performance of the Korngold Violin Concerto was warm and lyrical. We enjoyed it thoroughly and joined the large audience in a lengthy ovation that lasted through three curtain calls and was rewarded with an elegant and well-played encore performance of a J.S. Bach partita for violin.

As for Leonard Bernstein's "On the Waterfront" suite, I confess that I love it too much. That 1955 film is, on the whole, the finest cinematic work ever done in America. I saw it as a teenager, and it still lives in me after more than half a century. And our orchestra did it very well--even thrillingly. Conductor Paul Polivnick understood it from the inside out and elicited it fully from his players.

Finally, Gershwin's "An American In Paris" brought the house down...and deservedly.

What a musical feast for us territorial and home-loving Americans.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, May 12, 2013 @

Favorite moment: My favorite moment was the unexpected mid-program encore of the Bach partita for violin. @

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Review 3 for Symphony Silicon Valley

4 / 5

Verdi Requiem

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Mar 24, 2013 @

Favorite moment: the soprano performances @

Posted 03/26/2013

by TheaS

Location:San Jose, CA

Powerful, moving, great experience. The only reason why I do not rate it amazing is that the sound came too strongly from a nearby speaker. We had to cover our left ear; it was deafening, but also produced a stereo sound rather than a live music sound of the chorus.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Mar 24, 2013 @

Favorite moment: the soprano performances @

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Review 4 for Symphony Silicon Valley

4 / 5

great!

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Mar 24, 2013 @

Posted 03/26/2013

by SarahG311

Location:san jose, ca

what a perfect afternoon with the symphony and choir! our seats were in the middle so we had a great view. the music is lovely and well put together by the symphony silicon valley. we will definitely be going back to see them again.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Mar 24, 2013 @

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Review 5 for Symphony Silicon Valley

5 / 5

Requiem at California Theater

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Mar 23, 2013 @

Favorite moment: The alto soprano was fantastic! @

Posted 03/25/2013

by Mjdjwd

Location:San Jose

Beautiful!
The human voice, 70 of them, the 65 or so orchestra blended together to male exquisite sounds of life. I decided that this performance wil be performed for all souls as they enter heaven!

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Mar 23, 2013 @

Favorite moment: The alto soprano was fantastic! @

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Review 6 for Symphony Silicon Valley

5 / 5

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Mar 23, 2013 @

Posted 03/25/2013

by pok900

Amazing Sopranos, Bass, etc. and choir. Great great venue and beautiful piece.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Mar 23, 2013 @

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Review 7 for Symphony Silicon Valley

2 / 5

pop performance of a serious work

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Mar 23, 2013 @

Favorite moment: First few bars @

Posted 03/25/2013

by larug

Location:san jose

Mt Jaffe may be a good "pop" conductor". He gets lost conducting a serious piece.
The chorus was, well, fairly good. Te orchestra was solid as usual but the conduction was thin and unimaginative. The soloists seemed not have looked at the score before the performance, the soprano loud, the baritone barely audible.
At times it sounded like the Verdi piece I love and respect.
Went home yearning to listen to a respectable recording.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Mar 23, 2013 @

Favorite moment: First few bars @

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Review 8 for Symphony Silicon Valley

4 / 5

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Mar 23, 2013 @

Favorite moment: The bass drum in the Dies Irae! @

Posted 03/25/2013

by Anonymous

Location:San José

The soloists were the highlight. The soprano, Christina Major, gave a 5- star performance. The mezzo and baritone weren't far behind. For the most part, they sang well together — the two women, especially. The tenor had a very nice voice, but did not have the power to sing with the others.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Mar 23, 2013 @

Favorite moment: The bass drum in the Dies Irae! @

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Review 9 for Symphony Silicon Valley

4 / 5

Dynamic, entertaining and well executed...

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Jan 12, 2013 @

Favorite moment: The entire show was good... @

Posted 02/12/2013

by Bioperro

Location:US - San Jose

This even was well organized and the quality was really good, the orchestra and singers were impressive, I would surely attend this event again...

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Jan 12, 2013 @

Favorite moment: The entire show was good... @

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Review 10 for Symphony Silicon Valley

4 / 5

Well done!

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Jan 13, 2013 @

Favorite moment: The final-lee was great and a real surprise. @

Posted 01/15/2013

by Inkybab3

Location:Los Altos, CA

We have never attended anything at the CA Theater and did not know what to expect. The seating was very comfortable, acoustics where just fine, really enjoyed the program. The show was well detailed/explained and a very interesting, unusual production. The whole evening was very entertaining … even got better as it went along. Would highly recommend and will certainly attend another.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Jan 13, 2013 @

Favorite moment: The final-lee was great and a real surprise. @

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Review 11 for Symphony Silicon Valley

5 / 5

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Jan 12, 2013 @

Posted 01/14/2013

by Anonymous

It was wonderful. The singers and the orchestra were fantastic. Lisa Vroman is a great talent.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Jan 12, 2013 @

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Review 12 for Symphony Silicon Valley

5 / 5

Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale: Excellent Concert

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Dec 8, 2012 @

Posted 12/10/2012

by MerryChris

The Chorale once again delivered to the audience an excellent Christmas concert. The little known carols were beautiful and sung with great feeling. Some familiar carols were chosen to invite the audience to sing a long. The Silicon Valley version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," was entertaining and just plain fun! Elena Sharkova interacted with the audience in a charming way as well. "Carols in the California" is an annual concert not to be missed!

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Dec 8, 2012 @

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Review 13 for Symphony Silicon Valley

4 / 5

Serkin and Cleve made Brahms vibrate greatly!

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Dec 2, 2012 @

Favorite moment: The entrance of the piano part, following a very nice exposition by the orchestra. @

Posted 12/05/2012

by Jordiet

Location:San Jose, California

I was fortunate to have a seat in the first row where I could see Serkin and Cleve's communication very well and see, for the first time in my life, what it takes to play Brahms from a near perspective. Not the best for sound quality, but who cares! I ended up in awe of the music, thankful that there are a few pianists that can play it and that George Cleve continues commanding complete control of the orchestra and team with Serkin in a performance that will be rarely repeated anywhere. The Silicon Valley Orchestra did quite well, certainly it is not the Vienna Philarmonic, but we have nothing to be ashamed of here in San Jose.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Dec 2, 2012 @

Favorite moment: The entrance of the piano part, following a very nice exposition by the orchestra. @

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Review 14 for Symphony Silicon Valley

4 / 5

Very good experience

San Jose Center for the Performing Arts @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Oct 20, 2012 @

Posted 10/31/2012

by Mitruk

Location:Menlo Park, CA

Very good experience, two great concerts, excellent violin soloist.

San Jose Center for the Performing Arts @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Oct 20, 2012 @

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Review 15 for Symphony Silicon Valley

4 / 5

Beethoven

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Sep 29, 2012 @

Favorite moment: The Star Spangled Banner just because it was so unexpected. I have never seen that before. Please don't repeat it. @

Posted 10/05/2012

by Rprim

I very much enjoyed the Rossini overture and Beethoven's 5th symphony. The Romeo and Juliette and the Hungarian Rhapsody were OK but they were somewhat handicapped because these pieces are just not great music IMO. The Symphony Silicon Symphony is of very high quality and I look forward to more concerts in the future.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Sep 29, 2012 @

Favorite moment: The Star Spangled Banner just because it was so unexpected. I have never seen that before. Please don't repeat it. @

1 of 1 found this review helpful.

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Review 16 for Symphony Silicon Valley

5 / 5

Simply Delicious

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Sep 30, 2012 @

Posted 10/02/2012

by Granreina

Location:San Jose

It was a delight to watch Mr. Polivnick cast his magic wand while the orchestra
rewarded us with a beautiful and thoroughly enjoyable program. I wanted more.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Sep 30, 2012 @

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Review 17 for Symphony Silicon Valley

5 / 5

Beethoven's 5th Symphony

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Sep 30, 2012 @

Posted 10/02/2012

by Rufus001

Location:San Jose, CA

Most excellent production of this timeless piece of music. The conductor thoroughly engaged the musicians and gave an excellent performance.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Sep 30, 2012 @

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Review 18 for Symphony Silicon Valley

4 / 5

Sibelius 2nd Symphony

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Jun 2, 2012 @

Posted 06/13/2012

by nushki

The Sibelius Symphony was very exciting. The finale was especially rousing.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sat, Jun 2, 2012 @

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Review 19 for Symphony Silicon Valley

5 / 5

Symphony Silicon Valley

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Jun 3, 2012 @

Favorite moment: Rachmaninoff's Phapsody on a Theme by Paganini @

Posted 06/06/2012

by tmfdds

Location:Sunyvale

Great concert. The Grieg was enjoyable to hear. The Rachmaninoff Rhapsody (Paganini) was excellent and the piano soloist Mr. An was very expressive with great technique. He was generous with an encore. The Sibelius was wonderful too. The orchestra played an encore also, a treat!
Conductor Boughton celebrated the Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee with Shostakovich's arrangement of "Tea for Two". A lovely end to a wonderful afternoon concert.

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Jun 3, 2012 @

Favorite moment: Rachmaninoff's Phapsody on a Theme by Paganini @

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Review 20 for Symphony Silicon Valley

5 / 5

Bach and Beethoven

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Apr 1, 2012 @

Posted 04/16/2012

by ClassFan

It was a fabulous performance from beginning to end!

California Theatre @

- San Jose @

, CA @

- Sun, Apr 1, 2012 @

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