San Francisco Symphony - International Series — 108th Concert Season, "Virtuosi"

Presented by CAMA (Community Arts Music Association) CAMA 2026/2027 International Series — 108th Concert Season, "Virtuosi" San Francisco Symphony Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor Francesco Piemontesi, piano The San Francisco Symphony brings to Santa Barbara a distinctive combination: West Coast brilliance, international stature, and a recording legacy matched by few American orchestras.

With a history that reaches back to 1911, the Symphony has been recognized with multiple GRAMMY Awards—testimony to an ensemble that pairs burnished sound with fearless interpretive ambition. Over the course of a career spanning more than four decades, Scottish conductor Sir Donald Runnicles has built his reputation on enduring relationships with several of the world's most significant opera companies and orchestras, including the San Francisco Opera (1992–2008) and the Deutsche Oper Berlin, where he has served since 2009. His deep experience in the great dramatic repertoire brings a particular intensity to symphonic performance: long lines that feel inevitable, climaxes that arrive with theatrical impact, and an ear for orchestral balance that makes every inner voice speak.

Swiss pianist Francesco Piemontesi completes the trio with artistry defined by nuance and clarity. A prizewinner at the Queen Elisabeth Competition, a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellow, and a former BBC New Generation Artist, Piemontesi is admired for touch, color, and the kind of musical intelligence that makes virtuosity feel like thought. Together, these artists promise an evening of uncommon polish—big-hall power delivered with chamber-level detail.

Program: Ralph Vaughan Williams — Symphony No. 5 in D Major Johannes Brahms — Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83 The Granada Theatre is the venue for this rental event. Programming and promotion are managed by the presenting organization. Ticket prices include a $7 Granada Facility Fee. An additional Granada web service fee of $3 per ticket will be applied at seat selection.