Monthly Archives: December 2012

The inaugural edition of “All is Yar’s Most Favorite and Noteworthy Classical Music Stuff of the Year”
All Reviews / Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Los Angeles Master Chorale / Los Angeles Opera / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Other classical music concerts and recitals (in So Cal and beyond) / Pacific Symphony / Philharmonic Society of Orange County / Reviews 2011/2012 / Reviews 2012/2013 / Southwest Chamber Music / Uncategorized

The inaugural edition of “All is Yar’s Most Favorite and Noteworthy Classical Music Stuff of the Year”

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As we reach the end of December, it’s traditionally time for a retrospective look at the year that is just completed.  Since 2012 was the first full calendar year of All is Yar‘s existence, it’s an especially important one for me.  I’ve been fortunate — dare I say “blessed” — to have been able to … Continue reading →

LA Master Chorale below their own high standards in program of Bach and Vivaldi
All Reviews / Los Angeles Master Chorale / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

LA Master Chorale below their own high standards in program of Bach and Vivaldi

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The Los Angeles Master Chorale’s December dance card was a bit more full than usual:  two concerts of holiday carols, a straight-up performance of Handel’s Messiah, providing soloists for a Messiah sing-along, and an evening of Vivaldi and Bach that was titled, “Rejoice!”   I only had the opportunity to attend the Vivaldi/Bach concert, and judging from … Continue reading →

Five concerts, four conductors at different stages of their relationship w/ the LA Phil (part 4 of 4): Zubin Mehta, 50 years later
All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

Five concerts, four conductors at different stages of their relationship w/ the LA Phil (part 4 of 4): Zubin Mehta, 50 years later

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Zubin Mehta:  the man, the myth, the legend. While I’ve had a chance to see the other three conductors profiled in this series fairly early in their relationship with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, I was not around to see any of Mr. Mehta’s concerts as Music Director, let alone the ones early in his career. … Continue reading →

Five concerts, four conductors at different stages of their relationship w/ the LA Phil (part 3 of 4): Esa-Pekka Salonen then and now
All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

Five concerts, four conductors at different stages of their relationship w/ the LA Phil (part 3 of 4): Esa-Pekka Salonen then and now

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When Esa-Pekka Salonen comes back to conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic, you expect finely polished performances of complex programs.  In two weekends of concerts earlier this month, that’s exactly what you got and then some.  E-P was in town to help the orchestra celebrate Lutosławski’s centenary, with both sets of programs featuring major works by the … Continue reading →

Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Ralph Sauer performs the Bach Cello Suite No. 1 on trombone

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For your listening pleasure on this Monday evening: Ralph Sauer, legendary former Principal Trombone of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, performs this rare — dare I say, “unique” — rendition of Bach’s ubiquitous Cello Suite No. 1. Yes, I know. . . . You’re welcome. ————— Photo credit:  S.E. Shires Co. Inc   Continue reading →

Robert deMaine officially accepts LA Phil Principal Cello chair (UPDATED)
Appointments / Auditions & Appointments / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Robert deMaine officially accepts LA Phil Principal Cello chair (UPDATED)

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. Coming directly from the man himself — or at least his Twitter account — is this short and sweet statement from Robert deMaine: “I’m starting as Principal Cello in the Los Angeles Philharmonic officially on May 11. So excited!” Let me be among the first to congratulate Mr. deMaine and the orchestra on this … Continue reading →

Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Andrew Bain and Dale Clevenger: two Principal Horns in very different situations

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. One of the many quotes from my recent interview with Danny Rothmuller, retired Associate Principal Cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, that didn’t make it into my original posts (Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE) was the following observation: “French Horn is the only fallible instrument in the orchestra.  Any other instrument, if … Continue reading →

Jeffrey Kahane and LA Chamber Orchestra shed new light on familiar works
All Reviews / Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

Jeffrey Kahane and LA Chamber Orchestra shed new light on familiar works

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Saturday night’s Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra concert featured a first half with a rustic sensibility and a second half with an urban vibe.  Both halves were anchored by an American classic in a less-often heard rendition: The country mouse portion featured Dvořák’s Serenade for Winds paired  Appalachian Spring Suite in Copland’s original 1944 version. After intermission, … Continue reading →

Five concerts, four conductors at different stages of their relationship w/ the LA Phil (part 2 of 4): Lionel Bringuier and the latest Green Umbrella new music concert
All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

Five concerts, four conductors at different stages of their relationship w/ the LA Phil (part 2 of 4): Lionel Bringuier and the latest Green Umbrella new music concert

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The first time I learned about Lionel Bringuier was in November 2006.  The late great Alan Rich wrote about how the powers-that-be at the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the time — among them, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Deborah Borda, orchestra musicians, and board members — were blown away by Mr. Bringuier and named him Assistant Conductor at … Continue reading →

Five concerts, four conductors at different stages of their relationship w/ the LA Phil (part 1 of 4): Vasily Petrenko conducts Nielsen and Shostakovich; Trpceski plays Grieg’s Piano Concerto
All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

Five concerts, four conductors at different stages of their relationship w/ the LA Phil (part 1 of 4): Vasily Petrenko conducts Nielsen and Shostakovich; Trpceski plays Grieg’s Piano Concerto

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Based solely on what I saw and heard a couple of weeks ago, I’d guess that Vasily Petrenko and the Los Angeles Philharmonic have a good thing going. Throw in the fact that Rick Schultz said in the Los Angeles Times that Mr. Petrenko “made a deeply felt, unforgettable impression” at his January 2010 debut with … Continue reading →