Long Beach Symphony :: 80 Years of Community Enrichment

Music lovers can celebrate, as season tickets for the Long Beach Symphony 2014-2015 Classical and POPS! Series are now on sale. "We're thrilled to celebrate our 80th Anniversary at Long Beach Symphony by offering great music to the Long Beach community,"said Executive Director Kelly Ruggirello.

THE CLASSICAL SERIES is geared toward serious music enthusiasts and features six concerts, beginning fall 2014 with "Scheherazade," Rimsky-Korsakov's popular opus and audience favorite on Saturday, October 4. Other concert dates throughout the season include "The Firebird Suite," by Igor Stravinsky, on Saturday, November 8. Beginning in 2015 is the "New World Symphony," by Anton�n Dvo?�k, on Saturday, January 31, "American Masterworks" featuring works from Joan Tower, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and George Gershwin on Saturday, March 7, followed by Dmitri Shostakovich's "Russia" on Saturday, April 25. The Classical Series ends on Saturday, May 30, with Ludwig van Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67."

THE POPS! SERIES offers more light-hearted musical fare at what is called "America's biggest picnic event" in the Long Beach Arena. Guests can bring in their own food or order a catered table for friends, families or business associates.

"Hands down, this is one of the most fun musical events where you can eat, drink and dance,"stated Ruggirello. "It's perfect for the entire family!"

Concerts begin on Saturday, October 18 with the "Symphonic Surfin' Safari," showcasing crowd-pleasing rock hits of the'60s and'70s, including an award- winning selection of Beach Boys hits. "Bond and Beyond" follows on Saturday, November 22, a tribute to great James Bond movies. POPS! Series concerts in
2015 include "Ode to Ella and Gershwin," simultaneously highlighting conductor
Michael Berkowitz and jazz vocalist Carmen Bradford on Saturday, February 14 (a perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day), followed by "Rhythms of the Night," featuring the music of Jobim, Tito Puente and Sergio Mendes, among others, on Saturday, March 28.

Ending the POPS! Series on Saturday, May 9, is the symphony's "Classic Pops Hit Parade," which includes light classical fare such as Maurice Ravel's "Bolero," Ottorino Respighi's "Pines of Rome," and the "Festive Overture" by Dmitri Shostakovich.

Classical Series season tickets are a superb value beginning at just $102, and the POPS! Series season tickets for all five shows start at just $50. "By buying season tickets, you are guaranteed to get the best seats in the house for every concert," beamed Ruggirello. "And our season tickets subscribers make it possible to pro- duce an entire season with confidence, we love their support."

For more concert information or to purchase tickets, call 562.436.3203 or go to lbso.org.

LONG BEACH SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES POPS! BISTRO
The Long Beach Symphony POPS! Series has added an adjacent dance floor and a bartender to provide a club experience called the "POPS! Bistro," which includes intimate four-top seating for small groups. Escape the typical theatre or concert seating experience and hang out with friends, drink, eat and party while listening to great live music.

"This new private space is expected to sell out fast," according to Ruggirello. "We only have 16 tables, and we know the demand is going to be strong, so we encourage guests to reserve their tables as soon as possible."

Perfect for young, energetic music lovers that want to text and don't want to sit still, the POPS! Series and Bistro are a great place for a first date, small groups, family celebrations (like birthdays, anniversaries or wedding recep- tions) or a corporate event. Support great music in a"feel good"environment.

Reserve your POPS! Bistro seats at 555 East Ocean Boulevard, Suite 106 in Long Beach, by calling 562.436.3203 extension 1 or by going online to lbso.org