The San Diego Symphony, California’s oldest orchestra, will be kicking off the inaugural season of concerts at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park beginning August 6-8. The Rady Shell, a project privately funded by the Symphony who raised 99% of the $85 million cost, is a new year-round outdoor venue in Jacobs Park that offers a 360-degree view of the bay, the marina, and downtown San Diego. There won’t be another dull day this year for those with condos in downtown San Diego.
There are currently more than 40 concerts scheduled between August and November at The Shell, ranging from Latin and classical rock to Broadway, jazz, and pop. Big names expected to draw large crowds include Jason Mraz, who will be accompanied by the San Diego Symphony and perform hits such as ‘The Remedy’ and ‘Lucky,’ arranged to include the orchestra. Founder of The Police Stewart Copeland will also be joining the symphony in their world premier of ‘Police Deranged for Orchestra.’
Along with these legendary rockstar performances, the San Diego Symphony will also be performing two performances as part of their film series. The first will be the film based on the life and music of Elton John Rocketman – Live in Concert on September 3. The second will be John William’s score to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, with the film playing on the screen on September 18-19.
While the symphony usually hosts their fall season at Copley Symphony Hall, this year the entire season will be hosted at The Rady Shell. The Shell will be enforcing COVID-19 policies for the year. Such policies include requiring all patrons to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result within the past 72 hours. Patrons will still be required to wear masks, but will not have to socially distance, given the added safety protocols in place.
The summer of concerts in San Diego will be accompanied by a partnership with San Diego’s finest chefs and eateries including Lola 55, Urban Kitchen Group, and chef Richard Blais. Audience members will have options form pre-event dining and grab-and-go or table service offerings during.