PhotosFor the first time, in many a year, I’ve had George Frideric Handel ’s Messiah as part of my Christmas season listening. At this time of year, I’m all about the mid-century crooners all singing the same …
December 20, 2024
Articles by Garrett Harris
Bringing Order to the Christmas Chaos
Operatic Gender Wars
I came across a social media post that asked if there are any operas with an all-female chorus. To be clear this doesn’t mean operas that have a chorus scene with only women. There are …
December 13, 2024
The greatest symphonist of them all
Every now and then, a truly underappreciated gem comes along. I have a friend who has bugged me about Havergal Brian’s Symphony No. 1: “Gothic”. I ended up listening to it about a dozen times in …
December 6, 2024
San Diego Holiday Experiences
I am notorious, amongst my friends and family, for starting my holiday season early. As soon as Halloween is over, it’s Christmas time in my mind. My tree goes up and my Mid-Century Christmas playlist …
November 29, 2024
Bait and Switch at San Diego Symphony
The struggle session returned with a vengeance at the San Diego Symphony Orchestra concert on Saturday, November 16. The previous concert weekend featured a program without any contemporary pieces to struggle through as an audience …
November 22, 2024
Classical Classical at The San Diego Symphony Orchestra
The San Diego Symphony Orchestra concert on Saturday, November 9, was the concert I didn’t know I needed. To be honest, the program looked a bit boring on the surface. It was only Mozart, Haydn, …
November 15, 2024
San Diego Opera revives the Covid version of La Boheme
Back in the dark days of the pandemic, San Diego Opera conceived of a way to present Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme in a manner that would be consistent with Covid-19 social distancing rules. The performance …
November 8, 2024
Halloween opera style
There are some spooky operas out there and nothing is better for a refined and dignified Halloween. Of course, a sugar-laden celebration is also appropriate but on this night of ghosts and devils, opera can …
November 1, 2024
Moist eyes hearing Mahler at San Diego Symphony
It was with a sense of anticipation that I arrived at the Jacobs Music Center on Friday, October 4. Not only was Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 my favorite piece of music, once upon a time, …
October 18, 2024