About Rafael Payare
Rafael Payare is a highly acclaimed conductor known for his exceptional musicianship, technical prowess, and captivating stage presence. With his impressive credentials and achievements, he has become one of the most sought-after conductors globally. Born in 1980 and a graduate of Venezuela's renowned El Sistema music program, Payare embarked on his formal conducting studies under the guidance of José Antonio Abreu in 2004.
Payare's career gained significant momentum after winning the prestigious Malko International Competition for Young Conductors in Denmark in 2012. Since then, he has swiftly risen to prominence in the music world. Notably, he assumed the role of Principal Conductor at the Castleton Festival, founded by his late mentor Lorin Maazel, in 2015. Prior to this, he served as Chief Conductor of the Ulster Orchestra from Northern Ireland, from 2014 to 2019.
In 2019, Payare took on the esteemed position of Music Director of the San Diego Symphony, further solidifying his status as an eminent figure in the industry. Over the years, he has had the privilege of leading some of the most distinguished symphony orchestras worldwide, including those in Berlin, Vienna, London, Munich, Chicago, and Paris. His dynamic and expressive conducting style has garnered widespread acclaim and admiration from both audiences and critics alike.
Continuing to build on his remarkable achievements, Payare assumed the role of the ninth Music Director in the history of the OSM (Orchestre symphonique de Montréal) starting from the 2022-2023 season. This appointment demonstrates his exceptional standing in the music community and highlights his commitment to artistic excellence.
Rafael Payare's remarkable talent, extensive experience, and remarkable achievements have firmly established him as a prominent and highly sought-after conductor. His ability to connect with orchestras and audiences worldwide, coupled with his profound musical interpretation, ensures his continued success and lasting impact on the classical music landscape.
Discover the performances of Rafael Payare
Available Now
Beethoven's Ninth in Montreal
Payare conducts Beethoven's masterwork along with a pair of pieces for choir and orchestra by Brahms; including Song of Destiny, whose themes evoke fate and consolation.
Available Now
Spectral Reflections with Hannigan
Payare is joined by soprano Hannigan in a diverse program crested by a performance of Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique.
Available Now
Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 24
A pleasing pairing of Mozart works with from OSM. Payare joins Richard-Hamelin for the Piano Concerto No.24 whilst Labadies leads the spirited 'Haffner' symphony.
Discover the Symphony Family of Orchestras
Available Now
Wild and Stormy Nights
Nathalie Stutzmann transports you to a dusky, foreboding realm, where hope and light are at perpetual odd with fierce storms and undulating shadows.
Available Now
A German Double Bill
Violinist Leonidas Kavakos takes center-stage for a Brahms' Violin Concerto, followed by Beethoven's 'Pastorale' Symphony conducted by Daniel Harding.
Available Now
A night of Russian Storytelling
Semyon Bychkov is joined by Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov in this double-bill of modern Russian classics.
Available Now
Two Unfinished Symphonies
Schubert's lyrical 'Unfinished' 8th Symphony leads off this charismatic concert and concludes by featuring Anton Bruckner's sacred 9th.
Available Now
Folk Roots, Urban Roots
A rhythmic program of modern classics with Sir Simon Rattle and the Labèque Sisters.
Available Now
Blomstedt Explores Darkness and Light
A performance driven by a transformative energy where we explore Honegger's third as well as Brahms' fourth and final symphony.
Available Now
Chen Reiss Sings Mendelssohn
Enjoy this extraordinary performance with our soprano in Mendelssohn's "Lobgesang".
Choose your subscription plan
Frequently Asked
Questions
What is Symphony.live?
Symphony.live is a video streaming platform committed to uniting the world’s orchestras. We believe in demystifying the wonderful world of classical music, striving to make it more approachable for diverse audiences through innovative viewing experiences. Our growing family of orchestras and their stories are at the forefront of everything we do. We curate a diverse array of concerts, playlists, in-depth explorations, and more. Our family of orchestras includes The Cleveland Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, and others. This is your chance to get closer than ever to the music you love!
How does the free trial work?
For a 7-day free trial, curious users can try Symphony.live for free. During these 7 days, you can enjoy all of our content in full - and with no strings attached. During the trial period, it’s up to you to decide whether you want to join us or not, so feel free to cancel at any time. There are two types of subscriptions we offer: monthly ($6,99/month) and annual ($49,99/year).
Note: prices may vary per country.
How/where can I watch Symphony.live?
With Symphony.live, you can watch anywhere, anytime. As well as accessing online through Symphony.live, you can take your favorite concert experiences with you wherever you go, thanks to our mobile apps for iOS and Android.
You can also watch directly on your television via Roku, Android TV, Google TV, Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, and on recent Samsung and LG TV sets.
Currently, we are available in the following locations:
(Europe:) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom;
(Americas:) Brazil, Canada, Mexico, United States of America;
(Asia-Pacific:) Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea;
Note: more platforms and regions will be added soon.
What content does Symphony.live offer?
We would like to think there is something for everyone at Symphony.live. Whether you're a history buff looking to explore some of history's greatest musical minds, a connoisseur of the concert hall looking for your favorite performance, or simply looking to throw some relaxing classical music on in the background while you work, we’ve got you covered. From exclusive concert performances to deep-dive documentaries and our very own Close Up series, we ensure the classical music fan never runs out of content to watch. Plus, our hard-working team of experts regularly curates hand-picked playlists for every mood you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re in the mood for Vivaldi or Zimmer, you will never get bored; we are constantly revamping our collection with new music!
What quality does Symphony.live offer?
We understand the importance of experiencing classical music in mint condition. To help with your immersive experience, we always strive to provide you with the highest quality possible. We also have a selection of 5.1 digital surround sound available. Moreover, through our Wolfgang collaboration, select concert videos come with captions, enriching your viewing experience by providing a deeper understanding of the beautiful music on your screen.
How many devices can stream simultaneously?
You can stream Symphony.live on two devices simultaneously.
How can I cancel?
You can cancel at any time, directly from your profile page on the Symphony.live website.
How can I contact Symphony.live if I need account support and/or troubleshooting?
If you need support about your account, billing details, or encounter problems, please go to our help & support section or send a mail to support@symphony.live
How do I acces the Member Benefits?
To acces the Member Benefits you need to have an active subscription with Symphony.live. You can activate your account here.
Please follow these steps:
-
When you are a memner go to the login page on a browser on your desktop, laptop, tablet or phone: https://symphony.live/sign-in
-
Login to Symphony.live with your account credentials
-
The Member Benefits page is not available on our Apps so you need to head back to our member benefits page on the public website using this url: https://symphony.live/member-benefits
-
Look for the desired deal, copy the coupon code and use the button to go to the landingpage
-
From there you can activate the coupon code in the offered webshop or registration.
If you have any question please contact our support team.