I’m not able to make any concerts this week due to various conflicts, but that shouldn’t keep any of you from going, nor should it keep me from talking about them. . . .

Hollywood Bowl, Week 2
The Los Angeles Philharmonic second week of summer classical concerts were programmed similarly to the way Week 1 began:  program new music in the first half and an unabashed warhorse after intermission.  This time around, the contemporary work was the West Coast premiere of Edgar Meyer’s Double Concerto for violin and bass, with Joshua Bell and the composer as soloists; the warhorse was Mendelssohn’s ubiquitous Violin Concerto, featuring Mr. Bell  once again.   Two overtures by Weber got thrown in for good measure.  The conductor was Ludovic Morlot, the Seattle Symphony’s new music director and the Boston Symphony’s pinch hitter during their recent West Coast visit.

Brian Lauritzen got some time for one-on-one interviews with both Mr. Bell and Mr. Meyer.  Mr.  Mark Swed attended last night’s concert (he liked it).   The program repeats Thursday night with the same conductor and soloists.

Southwest Chamber Music’s  Summer Festival at the Huntington Library, Week 2
This summer, Southwest honors the centenary of Julia Child with programs dominated by French music, and the opportunity to either picnic on the grounds or eat three-course meals at the Huntington’s Tea Room.  I was disappointed to not be able to attend the first pair of concerts this past weekend featuring works by Ravel, Jolivet, and Debussy (including his famed String Quartet) as they were high on my wish list.  Apparently, it was high on a lot of people’s list:  last Saturday’s concert had Southwest’s best audience ever, including a sold out Loggia.

This coming Saturday and Sunday, the program features Suite bergamasque by Debussy, the piano quintet version of Milhaud’s La création du monde,  Ravel’s Chansons madécasses, and the Quintet for Piano and Strings by Franck.  Tickets are still available for both nights.  A video preview can be found HERE.

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Photo credit:  Loggia Southwest, Huntington Library (Tim Street-Porter)