SD Symphony’s New Music Director Conducts a Free Concert That Drew Thousands at Petco Park
Article and Photos by Shea McGee and Samuel Li
Lines for the first-ever concert by the San Diego Symphony were plentiful, given that it was a free concert that the Symphony was hoping would encourage more San Diegans to support the new Music Director Rafael Payare. Since his debut in early July at the Copley Symphony Hall in his new role, he has performed only a few shows with the Symphony, but hopes—and expectations—were high. Highly favored for the pick to be the new music director from the orchestra members as well as auditions he had to go through, Payare seems to be the right pick for the job.
The Venezuelan-born Payare took the stage as the crowd settled onto the grassy hills or assigned special seatings situated in front of the popular baseball stadium. The event was perfect for the day as the weather was warm and favorable. As indications of the sunny fall afternoon, the grassy seating areas was quickly filled by those looking to take in the hour-long show. Looking upon the crowd, you could see young and old throughout the faces, and many different cultural backgrounds as well. However, as for Black attendees, there weren’t many to note. Only a few were spotted amongst the gathering of over 3,000 concert-goers, leaving one to wonder why so few showed.
Playing classical heavy hitters such as Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, Payare kept the music selections lively—especially with a choice of Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers” from The Nutcracker, and Hector Berlioz’s “Roman Carnival”. Such musical selections were appreciated with applauses from the mixed age crowd. There was even an enthusiastic solo dance performance from a young toddler in a pink ballerina tutu, which the crowd adored and welcomed.
With the hopes from this free concert, Rafael Payare was quoted to the media via the Symphony in a statement as saying, “The Orchestra and I can’t wait to share this music with everyone. Music can draw us together and build new connections—and I welcome my fellow San Diegans to experience the power of music, while taking in the sights and sounds of the city.” This mission was seemingly accomplished, but with a rather large demographic missing from the free concert, certain aspects of the great city of San Diego was missing in action. Access to such musical experiences seemed to be only meant for those in the know, not a lot of young or minority-born people were in the mix. If the word was more widespread, the turnout may have generated more diversity in the faces of the crowd.
Payare is an engaging and exciting music director, and gives the audience a show that they will just as soon speak to others about; word-of-mouth will travel quickly about him. If only more young minority children got to witness him, it would provide another avenue for them to explore for themselves, for their futures.
