"Symphony supporters glammed it up for a pre-concert reception that had a touch of added mystery as most of the VIP crowd wore masks for the occasion. There were Venetian masks, Mardi Gras masks, and a few black lace masks with feathers, beads, colors and the occasional beak adding to the fun. Mask-wearing guests mingled during a pre-concert gala reception at Symphony San Jose's opening night, Masquerade, at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)"
"But the one person who would have been recognizable even if he'd covered his face was star piano soloist Jon Nakamatsu, who was welcomed by the Symphony San Jose audience like the national treasure that he is. Under the direction of conductor Nathan Aspinall, the San Jose native and Van Cliburn award winner played Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and sat down at the bench again, after several rounds of ovations, for an encore of that piece's most well-known section."
"Robert Massey, Symphony San Jose's executive and artistic director, wasn't sure if this was Nakamatsu's 15th or 16th appearance with the orchestra. When it comes to Nakamatsu, it doesn't matter just keep him coming back. The program also included the appropriately titled Masquerade, a 2013 piece with a lot of pomp from English composer Anna Clyne, and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Massey said he loves to program the Berlioz piece in October because of its haunting themes, especially in its final movement, Dream of a Witches' Sabbath."
Symphony San Jose opened its season with a Masquerade gala at the California Theatre, featuring a masked VIP pre-concert reception with Venetian, Mardi Gras and black lace masks adorned with feathers, beads and occasional beaks. Pianist Jon Nakamatsu, a San Jose native and Van Cliburn winner, performed Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini under conductor Nathan Aspinall and returned for an encore. The program included Anna Clyne's 2013 Masquerade and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Executive and artistic director Robert Massey noted a seasonal affinity for programming Berlioz in October because of its haunting themes.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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