There’s no pigeonholing The Soraya. Classical? Sure. Chamber? Of course. Jazz? Lots of it. Dance? Twyla Tharp’s troupe is on the way. So is Ballet Folklórico de México. Big philharmonic orchestras, intimate evenings with singers and instrumentalists, a mariachi opera, a trilogy honoring endangered California trees, a virtuoso mandolin player rocking Vivaldi. Performances in Spanish. Performances in English. Performances that transcend language. If you’re looking for a common thread to characterize the docket at the Valley’s premier performing arts center—well, good luck with that.

It’s tempting to say that the eclectic range of events at The Soraya reflects the broad tastes and experience of its executive/artistic director, Thor Steingraber. That’s probably true. But Thor himself would sidestep that and point to the Valley itself to explain the diversity of the arts on display in the 1,700-seat venue on the campus of Cal State Northridge.

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