Just to prove to myself that I could summarize into three bullet points my thoughts on last Thursday’s Los Angeles Philharmonic concert: Emanuel Ax played Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25: Spectacular. Flawless. Brilliant. Dare I say, “Perfect.” Conductor Ludovic Morlot: Solid in Dutilleux’s The Shadows of Time and Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. The orchestra: Very good the whole night. There, I … Continue reading
The Los Angeles Philharmonic released details today of this year’s Hollywood Bowl season (press release HERE and complete chronological list of performances HERE). Nothing particularly Earth-shattering in the 2013 rendition of the popular Southern California summer venue’s line-up or format. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, I guess. The biggest surprises for me: The … Continue reading
Recently, whenever there has been an opening for a music directorship at an orchestra, Pablo Heras-Casado usually gets included in the list of candidates to be considered. The 30-something Spanish maestro has many admirers and proponents, and he gets his fair share of positive press. The New York Philharmonic just announced that he’ll be making … Continue reading
“As the human race evolves, we appreciate Bach more.” — Allan Vogel For this year’s rendition of its “Baroque Conversations” series, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has decided to devote all five concerts this season to the music of Bach. Last Thursday’s series opener focused on his Trio Sonatas, with Allan Vogel, LACO’s renowned Principal … Continue reading
A few years ago, I was at Walt Disney Concert Hall to see James Conlon conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a concert of works by Prokofiev. Sitting right in front of me were two gentleman, one older and the other younger, speaking a European language I did not recognize. Whatever they were saying, they … Continue reading
If you missed Esa-Pekka Salonen’s visit to So Cal a month ago to play some Lutosławski with the Los Angeles Philharmonic — or if you were there and are currently missing the thought of those concerts — you now have reason to rejoice a little: on January 25th, the recording of the First Symphony made at … Continue reading
Vassily Sinaisky is not exactly a household name, and until last night, I’d never seen him conduct. The Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre certainly looks the way you’d imagine a maestro to look: tall(ish), sporting white tie and tails (no pajama jacket here), with wavy grey hair brushed up to maximum height. … Continue reading
A new composition for a new year. Seems rather poetic, doesn’t it? Often such gestures work better in concept than in practice, but thanks to Martin Grubinger‘s virtuoso performance of The Tears of Nature, Tan Dun’s new percussion concerto receiving its U.S. Premiere last Friday night care of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, this one worked … Continue reading
Los Angeles Opera announced their 2013/2014 season today. As far as I’m concerned, the most noteworthy things: Not a big increase in number of productions and performances versus the 2012/2013 season, but the mix is a bit more diverse — including three performances of Glass’s Einstein on the Beach. Tenor Brandon Jovanovich returns to L.A. … Continue reading
“Iconic” is a term that can get bandied about willy-nilly, especially when it comes to artists of the various genres of popular music. When it comes to the 1980’s 2-Tone ska movement, however, it is a word that justifiably applies to Dave Wakeling, leader of The English Beat. Together with Madness and The Specials, The … Continue reading
All is Yar 