Classical music has a stuffy reputation, but Symphony San Jose — and its audiences — is just having too much fun this season for that to be true.
Most of the orchestra ditched the formalwear for costumes for last weekend’s Halloween-themed “Symphonic Spooktacular” at the California Theatre. There were Minions on the woodwinds, a Starfleet Vulcan playing cello, and a butterfly on violin. And was that Mozart on the timpani? The Symphony San Jose Chorale came out after intermission wearing a kaleidoscope of outfits, too.
Conductor Peter Jaffe had more costume changes than an awards-show host, starting the concert in a Dracula cape, switching to a skeleton T-shirt and skull mask, a Phantom of the Opera mask for a suite of music from that show and donning a wizard’s robe and hat for John Williams’ “Double Trouble” from the third Harry Potter movie.
Executive Artistic Director Robert Massey even got in on the act, dressing up as a droog from Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange” on Saturday night and going for a more-family friendly look as Mister Rogers for Sunday’s matinee.
Plenty of audience members were in costume, too, and paraded across the stage for the contest held during each concert. There’ll be more fun in store for the next concert, too, as it’s the annual “Holiday Spectacular” Dec. 7-8, with a singalong, Chorale Director Elena Sharkova’s “12 Days of Silicon Valley” and a visit from Santa Claus.
NEW BALLET RAISES THE ROOF: Speaking of costumes, there were plenty on display at New Ballet’s Halloween Dance Party fundraiser, held last Saturday night on the rooftop terrace of the Hammer Theatre Center in downtown San Jose.
New Ballet Artistic Director Dalia Rawson, second from left, with her husband, Gareth Hughes, far left and his parents Pam and Trevor Hughes at New Ballet’s Halloween Dance Party held Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 at the Hammer Theatre Center in downtown San Jose. (Photo courtesy of New Ballet)
New Ballet Artistic Director Dalia Rawson dressed in a full-length ball gown as Princess Peach and 10 members of her extended family carried through with the theme as other Mario characters. Lead sponsor Amazon had a table filled with people of all ages in unicorn costumes, and New Ballet dancers dressed in costumes ranging from Jedi Knights to Mickey Mouse.
About 180 people attended the bash, raising nearly $30,000 to support its scholarship and outreach programs relating to “The San Jose Nutcracker.” This helps keep expenses low for the student dancers in the show and allows some families see the show — Dec. 14-23 at the California Theatre with Symphony San Jose — who might otherwise not be able to.
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Plans are in the works to make next year’s event even bigger, with a gala performance on the Hammer Theatre stage before the fun on the terrace.
IT’S BACK: There are a few tickets remaining for the annual showing of “The Milpitas Monster,” the cult classic movie from 1976 that was directed by Robert L. Burrill, who was then an art teacher at Samuel Ayer High. The 7 p.m. screening Wednesday at the Century Great Mall theater in Milpitas will be preceded by an optional dinner at 4 p.m. at Outback Steakhouse, which is where Burrill and the other movie makers will hold court.
Tickets are available only in advance through Eventbrite.com. Search for “Milpitas Monster.”
GATHERING FOR GOOD: The Santa Clara Convention Center will be buzzing Sunday afternoon, as more than 800 leaders from more than 30 religious congregations and community organizations from Santa Clara County will be gathering for the founding convention of Silicon Valley Allied for the Common Good.
The group’s goal is to build a nonpartisan power base for county residents to work on issues ranging from housing and public safety to mental health and more. Organizers say holding the convention just two days before a very polarizing election is on purpose to show the group’s commitment to making democracy works regardless of how the election turns out. And it specifically put “Silicon Valley” in the organization’s name to show that moniker also stands for the people who live here and not just the companies creating all the tech.
It sounds like they’re off to a good start already.