Art of Elan Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by Steven Schick
with soloists Conor Hanick, Fiona Digney, and Andrew Watkins
an outdoor concert featuring the monumental work
From the Canyons to the Stars by Olivier Messiaen
October 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Stargazing Theater at La Casa del Zorro
Borrego Springs, CA
Art of Elan In The Desert
Experience an extraordinary evening of music beneath the stars at La Casa del Zorro’s Stargazing Theater in Borrego Springs. Conducted by Steven Schick and performed by the Art of Elan Chamber Orchestra, this special outdoor event features Olivier Messiaen’s monumental From the Canyons to the Stars.
Rarely performed due to its scale and artistic demands, the approximately 90-minute masterpiece will be presented outdoors under the desert sky just days after the October new moon, offering exceptional stargazing conditions. With limited capacity and an intimate setting in the heart of the Anza-Borrego Desert, audiences will experience one of the twentieth century’s most ambitious musical works in a setting unlike any other.
Featuring acclaimed soloists including Conor Hanick, piano, and Fiona Digney and Andrew Watkins, percussion.
VIP Desert Escape Experience
Enhance your evening under the stars with our VIP Desert Escape Experience. Limited VIP packages include overnight accommodations at La Casa del Zorro Resort & Spa, a special post-concert dinner with the musicians and premium concert seating. For VIP package inquiries, please contact Paige at: paige@artofelan.org
Photo: Anza-Borrego Desert by Ernie Cowan
Learn More About From the Canyons to the Stars
New to From the Canyons to the Stars? Listen to a full performance and discover why Olivier Messiaen’s monumental masterpiece is considered one of the most ambitious orchestral works of the twentieth century.
Why Borrego Springs?
Olivier Messiaen composed From the Canyons to the Stars after traveling through the American Southwest and finding inspiration in its vast landscapes, birdsong, and celestial skies. Written between 1972 and 1974, the approximately 90-minute work is considered one of the composer’s most ambitious creations and is rarely performed due to its scale and instrumentation.
Experiencing this monumental work outdoors beneath the dark skies of Borrego Springs, an officially designated International Dark Sky Community, offers a uniquely fitting setting for Messiaen’s musical celebration of nature, wonder, and the cosmos. Intentionally scheduled just after the October new moon for optimal stargazing conditions, the performance invites audiences to experience the music in direct dialogue with the desert landscape and night sky.
As conductor Steven Schick describes it, From the Canyons to the Stars is “an anthem for our beautiful blue planet and a credo for anyone who calls it home.”
Further Exploration
Watch this behind the scenes discussion from Washington Performing Arts exploring the work’s artistic vision and production.
Photo: Anza-Borrego Desert by Andrew Webb Curtis
Hotel Accommodations
Staying at La Casa del Zorro
Art of Elan in the Desert will take place at the Stargazing Theater at La Casa del Zorro Resort & Spa. Guests wishing to stay on property are encouraged to make reservations directly with the resort.
La Casa del Zorro Resort & Spa
3845 Yaqui Pass Road
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
(760) 767-0100
Additional Lodging Options
Guests seeking alternative accommodations in Borrego Springs may wish to consider:
• Borrego Valley Inn
• Borrego Springs Resort
• The Palms at Indian Head
• Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort
• Stanlunds Inn & Suites
• Hacienda Del Sol
• Borrego Springs Motel
We recommend booking accommodations early, as lodging availability in Borrego Springs can be limited during the fall season.