Pacific Symphony Youth on PBS SoCal Nov. 13

PBS SoCal will premiere its original production of “Bulgarian Rhapsody: Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra Tour in Bulgaria” on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. The 30-minute documentary, produced by PBS SoCal’s Maria Hall-Brown, showcases the talented performers of the Santa Ana, Calif.-based Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra as they traveled and performed in the homeland of their beloved Music Director Maxim Eshkenazy.



Encore broadcasts of the special will air Sunday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 21 at 10:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 12:30 p.m.



“Bulgarian Rhapsody” travels with 73 youth musicians, who saw, enjoyed and became part of a world rarely experienced even for the seasoned traveler, Bulgaria. Through the eyes of the orchestra members and those who experience their performances, to an intimate look at the beauty and history of a land filled with a rich cultural tapestry of its own, this documentary hopes to illuminate the power, grace and beauty of this universal language…music.



“This shared experience brought so many people from such diverse backgrounds together,” says Hall-Brown. “The documentary hopes to capture the beauty of the Orchestra’s performances, as well as the joy of discovering new friends, all played out against the backdrop of the Bulgarian countryside.”



The PSYO traveled to the ex-Soviet dominated region for 10 days this summer for the opportunity to present three performances in the Bulgarian cities of Plovidiv, Varna and Sofia. The PSYO tackled Gershwin's most ambitious creation, "Porgy and Bess,” a jazz and blues-infused opera written in 1934-35—which served as the centerpiece for the tour. Along with "Porgy and Bess," the orchestra played Bernstein's "Slava! A Political Overture," Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake," "Thracian Dances" by Bulgarian composer Petkov Staynov, a suite from "Star Wars" by John Williams and Badelt's "Pirates of the Caribbean."



According to Maestro Eshkenazy, the music challenged PSYO musicians to perform at the highest quality. "Performing three concerts in Bulgarian territory is something that makes me very proud for this organization,” says Eshkenazy. “We performed ‘Porgy and Bess' because it is an American classic, and I wanted the Bulgarian audience to enjoy an American orchestra playing an American classic."





"When an orchestra goes on tour, it helps them grow and meld together," adds Director of Youth Ensembles Melissa Craig. "It promotes personal growth for the musicians, which in turn enhances their musical expression. It's great because most of the students wouldn't otherwise get this experience."