The San Diego Symphony debuted the first of 40 outdoor concerts scheduled this season at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park to a sold-out crowd of over 3,500, receiving the first standing ovation at the $85 million new venue before performing a single note. The performance was accompanied by a beautiful fireworks display, described by concertgoers as “anti-climatic” in comparison to the Symphony’s music.
The Rady Shell first broke ground in September, 2019. Their first performances were scheduled for July, 2020. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed those plans back 13 months, forcing the orchestra to cancel their 2020-21 concert season and perform online. One upside to the pandemic for the symphony, however, was that it gave music director Rafael Payare the time to rehearse at length with each section of the orchestra. Because of this, concertgoers remarked that the music was “perfect.”
Investors interested in downtown San Diego real estate for sale should be pleased to learn that the Rady Shell is having a positive economic impact on the downtown area. People from all over the country and the world travel to San Diego to see the San Diego Symphony. These tourists provide boosts in business for restaurants, hotels, retail shops, and more.
COVID-19 precautions are observed at the Rady Shell during performances. All of the string players and percussionists in the orchestra wore masks, as did a number of the guests in attendance. Concertgoers were not socially distanced during the sold-out show.
The symphony is expected to perform most of their fall season at the Rady Shell, which doubled as a rehearsal space during the course of the pandemic. Concerts will continue to run from Sunday, August 9 to November 14, with a closing by the San Diego Symphony accompanied by conductor Edo de Waart. Tickets are on sale and range from $45-$250 depending on performance. Keep an eye out for key performances from Jason Mraz and Nas.