Courtesy photos.
VENTURA COUNTY — The New West Symphony (NWS), under the direction of Grammy Award Winning Music Director Michael Christie; announces its upcoming 2026 Masterpiece Series concert, “Mozart and American Voices.” This program explores the rich tradition of musical storytelling, juxtaposing the classical wit of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with the bold, emotional landscapes of American opera and musical theater. Performances are scheduled for March 7, 2026, at 7 PM at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks, and March 8, 2026, at 3 PM at the Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center in Camarillo.
A Journey Through Storytelling “Mozart and American Voices” blends timeless elegance with bold American spirit. The first half features selected “semi-staged” scenes and arias from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, showcasing the chaotic comedy that redefined opera. The program then shifts to the American stage, featuring powerful works by legendary composers such as Leonard Bernstein (Candide), George Gershwin (Porgy and Bess), Stephen Sondheim, Philip Glass, Samuel Barber, and more. “This program shows the extraordinary range of musical storytelling,” says Maestro Christie. “We are exploring how composers from two very different eras used the human voice to tell stories of love, humor, and life.”
The concert highlights a significant collaboration with Angels Vocal Art (AVA), a Los Angeles-based opera company dedicated to championing the next generation of vocal artists. Joining them is the New West Symphony Chorus, a skilled ensemble of volunteer singers under the direction of Dr. Wyant Morton. A true treat for the audience.
Grammy Award winning Maestro Michael Christie says of the program, “Everyone can sing, but only the most AMAZING masters can CREATE those songs we hold dear. Stephen Sondheim, the “father of the modern musical” is credited with reinventing America’s theatrical pass time with timeless classics like “Send in the Clowns” and “Getting Married Today.”
Sondheim draws on a distinguished line of composers, also featured in this program, such as Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and…MOZART! Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,“ considered a top-five opera of all time, is jampacked with heart-felt melodies and great comic timing. New West Symphony partners with Angels Vocal Art to present a “favorites” version of Figaro with vocalists acting as they sing: semi-staged.
New West Symphony’s 2026 concert season celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America’s 250th birthday. In partnership with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and with the nation-wide effort to recognize this historic moment for the United States (A250), each New West Symphony program touches on America’s distinct musical heritage and impact on music around the world. For example, Mozart wrote his Marriage of Figaro as the United States founding fathers were convening to draft the US Constitution. Little would anyone know that the years 1786-1788 would be so consequential for world and music history.”
Tickets & Information Tickets are available at https://newwestsymphony.org/2026-masterpiece-series/mozart-and-american-voices/ or by calling 866-776-8400
Thank you!
Of note: Michael Christie making his debut at NY’s finest, the Metropolitan Opera: https://newwestsymphony.org/michael-christie-2/#:~:text=Christie%20was%20recently%20appointed%20the,Kavalier%20&%20Clay%20in%20February%202026 ;https://www.operabase.com/michael-christie-a12218/en