“San Diego Symphony Music Director Rafael Payare has reached an agreement to extend his contract through 2026—a move that will provide much-needed continuity for the symphony, which saw the winter and spring portion of its 2021 season silenced by the coronavirus pandemic,” writes George Varga in Friday’s (10/30) San Diego Union-Tribune. “Payare signed a four-year contract in early 2018 and formally assumed his position as music director on July 1, 2019…. The … contract extension comes as the symphony is successfully pivoting to new modes of performance and community outreach, including its ‘Lunch & Listen’ and ‘Listen//Hear’ online series. On Oct. 23, Payare and a smaller edition of the symphony performed a livestreamed concert at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center that featured works by Beethoven, Mozart and other composers…. On Oct. 24, Payare and 24 members of the symphony kicked off the first of four performances as part of the San Diego Opera’s novel drive-in production of ‘La bohème’ in the parking lot at Pechanga Arena San Diego…. Payare and [Symphony CEO Martha] Gilmer are confident that The Shell [a new outdoor venue] will enable the orchestra to safely perform concerts for socially distanced audiences … nearly year-round.”
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