FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Giuliano Kornberg
gkornberg@sacphilopera.org

Major step forward in Building Future Leadership

“When I first worked with the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, I was in awe of the quality of musicianship this organization produces, and I have happily returned again and again to conduct this fine ensemble,” Pelto reflected. “The connection I feel with the musicians is special, and I look forward to continuing to work with them and bring the best in orchestral music and opera to this community.”
As Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor, Pelto will shape the artistic profile of the SP&O, provide consistency from the podium by conducting at least three concerts each year, and advise the SP&O on artistic matters including auditions, season programming, the selection of guest artists and conductors, and more that will enable the SP&O to grow artistically.

The SP&O relies on support from the community to bring artists of Pelto’s caliber to Sacramento and perform great concerts. Naming an artistic advisor and principal conductor is only possible with the support of Doris Matsui and Roger Sant, who have been staunch supporters and advocates of the SP&O since its comeback.

Congresswoman Matsui and Mr. Sant shared that “Sacramento wouldn’t be the community that it is without a lively and thriving arts community, which includes the Philharmonic & Opera. To be successful, organizations need strong leadership, and we are proud to help make that possible. We look forward to seeing Ari and this great organization continue to grow and strengthen.”

About Ari Pelto

Widely known for performances that have been called “poetic, earthy, vigorous” and “highly individual,” Finnish American conductor Ari Pelto is in demand in opera houses and with symphony orchestras throughout the United States.

Appointed Music Director at Opera Colorado in 2015, Pelto has also conducted the New York City Opera, San Diego Opera, Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta Opera, Lyric Opera Kansas City, Virginia Opera, Portland Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Memphis, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Boston Lyric Opera, Chautauqua Festival, Western Opera Theatre (the touring company of San Francisco Opera), Utah Symphony and Opera, Chicago Opera Theater and Chicago College of Performing Arts.

Maestro Pelto was assistant conductor at Spoleto Festival and with Florida West Coast Symphony and a frequent guest with The Florida Orchestra and Toledo Symphony. More recently, he conducted Omaha Symphony, Utah Symphony, and Detroit Symphony in a variety of symphonic works. His international appearances include performances with the Bochumer Philharmoniker, New National Theatre of Tokyo, and the Teatro Nacional Sucre in Quito, Ecuador. A masterful collaborator with dancers, Ari has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the Atlanta Ballet.

Pelto is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, and studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Rubin Academy in Jerusalem, and with Imre Pallo at Indiana University.

Concerts conducted by Mr. Pelto in the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera 2023-2024 season include the following:

BRAHMS’ STORMY SYMPHONY NO. 4
Saturday, November 18, 2023

Ari Pelto, conductor
Zlatomir Fung, cello

MENDELSSOHN The Hebrides, op. 26 (Fingal’s Cave)
ELGAR Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
BRAHMS Symphony No. 4

MICHELLE CANN PLAYS RACHMANINOFF
Saturday, January 20, 2024

Ari Pelto, conductor
Michelle Cann, piano

PROKOFIEV Suite from Lieutenant Kijé, Op. 60
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52

PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION
Saturday, March 9, 2024

Ari Pelto, conductor

PRICE The Oak, symphonic poem FAURÉ Suite from Pélleas et Mélisande, op. 80
MUSSORGSKY/RAVEL Pictures at an Exhibition

Subscription packages are on sale now, with seven-concert packages starting at $140. Single tickets will go on sale in August. For more information or to purchase a subscription, visit sacphilopera.org or call 916-476-5975. The 2023-24 Season is underwritten by the Nancy and Hank Fisher Family Fund.

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About the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera:

The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera builds community, inspires a love of the performing arts, and enriches lives through symphonic and opera music. Its current 2022-23 season, with seven performances total including two operas, began on October 22, 2022, with a performance featuring “The Firebird” and ends on May 20, 2023, with a staged production of La Bohème. To learn more about the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera and its 2022-23 season and programs, visit https://www.sacphilopera.org/.

What a fabulous way to finish the month! The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera featured conductor Francois Lopez-Ferrer and cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan on January 28. This was such a special performance of the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No. 1 and Ravel’s Bolero. It even included a surprise duet with Narek and our harpist, Anna Maria Mendieta, playing the Swan.

We have the best patrons! Thank you to everyone who attended Bolero the last weekend of January! We appreciate your love of the performing arts. If you took a picture in front of our Step and Repeat Banner, you can download yours below! See you February 25 for our first Opera, Pagliacci!

LINK TO PHOTOS

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1XCdU405cOY7jXxCRaRUWelpDY4VHvW7K

The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera hosted pianist Janice Carissa and conductor Douglas Boyd on January 21 for a nearly sold out crowd. Our orchestra expertly performed the dynamic Ravel Piano Concerto in G, with Janice gracefully dancing around the keyboard. What a special evening!

We have the best patrons! Thank you to everyone who attended Beethoven’s Eroica in January! We appreciate your love of the performing arts. If you took a picture in front of our Step and Repeat Banner, you can download yours below! See you February 25 for our first Opera, Pagliacci!

LINK TO PHOTOS

https://drive.google.com/…/1xqG2FJEmaKIvfqVrhYW2h300O6t…

The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera hosted singer Nicholas Phan, and French horn player Chris Cooper. They performed the Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings beautifully last Saturday. A huge shoutout for the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera Chorus! They sang the Mozart Mass in C minor behind soloists Liisa Davila, Julie Miller, Salvatore Atti, and Richard Ollarsaba, conducted by Ari Pelto and Bruce Olstad. This was a spectacle to witness and we are so thankful for all of our outstanding musicians!

To the Sacramento community, thank you so much for making Mozart’s Magnificent Mass special! We filled over 90% of the house and enjoyed spectacular music. If you took a picture in front of our step and repeat banner, you may find yours in the link below. Simply right-click your photo, click download, and tag @sacphilopera when posting! We can’t wait to see you at our next concert on January 21!!

Link to Photos

With over 90% of our patrons rating this performance 4 or 5 stars and more than 1,500 tickets sold, The Firebird on October 22nd was a great success! We want to thank our guest artists Lidiya Yankovskaya, Tai Murray, and John Wineglass for your incredible artistry. Thank you to our fabulous Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera musicians for your professionalism and hard work! Happy birthday to our Tubist Julian Dixon! We hope to see everyone at our next performance on November 19!

To the Sacramento community, thank you so much for making our Opening Night special! If you took a picture in front of our step and repeat banner, you may find yours in the link below. Simply right-click your photo, click download, and tag @sacphilopera when posting! We can’t wait to see you at our next concert on November 19th!

Link to Photos

The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera String Trio performed at Sacramento Children’s Museum for a crowd of all ages! Thank you to the City of Rancho Cordova Government for sponsoring this fun concert! Contact us to find out how to get a string trio at your next event.

Dagenais Smiley – Violin

Edward Wharton – Viola

Lena Bonhorst Andaya – Cello

The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera Brass Quintet performed classical and pops favorites at the KP International Market. Thank you to the City of Rancho Cordova Government for sponsoring this concert! Contact us to get a brass group at your next event!

James Rodseth & William Harvey – Trumpet

Eric Achen – Horn

Steve Perdicaris – Trombone

Julian Dixon – Tuba