Saturday at the Ojai Music Festival: ain’t no party like a West Coast party cuz a West Coast party don’t stop

Posted on June 17, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

Listening to music you’ve never heard before is, by definition, full of unknowns. One aspect you don’t always think about is how long a piece will take to play. Printed program notes frequently include estimated timings, but that isn’t always the case, and you’re at the mercy of the composer’s and musicians’ ability to keep … Continue reading →

All Reviews / Music News & Info: Classical / Music News & Info: Rock, Jazz, World Music, etc. / Other classical music concerts and recitals (in So Cal and beyond) / Pacific Symphony / Reviews 2012/2013

“The Rite of Spring” served up 3 ways: shaken, straight up, and blended (c/o Ojai, Pacific Symphony, and UCI)

Posted on June 14, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

At the opening talk of this year’s Ojai Music Festival last Thursday, Ara Guzelimien (Provost & Dean of The Julliard School and former Artistic Director of the Ojai Festival) astutely observed that The Rite of Spring has become big business. What used to scare audiences now regularly packs houses. With all of the buzz surrounding … Continue reading →

Music News & Info: Classical / Other classical music concerts and recitals (in So Cal and beyond)

Photos from the 2013 Ojai Music Festival

Posted on June 13, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • 4 Comments

My two-part review of this past weekend’s 67th Ojai Music Festival will be up very soon. In the meantime, please enjoy these photos from the weekend (see the gallery below). Except for a few shots taken by me (as noted in the descriptions), most of the photos — in fact, pretty much all the really … Continue reading →

Humor / Music News & Info: Rock, Jazz, World Music, etc.

And now for something completely different: a chronological cover of Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”

Posted on June 12, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

Mad props to the esteemed Brian Lauritzen for unearthing this gem. As he says, it’s better than the original. And don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with the audio — it’s supposed to be like that, you’ll see. (Oh, and if you’re wondering what the original is like, click HERE) Continue reading →

All Reviews / Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

Season enders (part 1 of 2): Alisa Weilerstein closes LACO’s final 2012/13 concert with a flourish

Posted on June 12, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

When the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival was in town last year, I managed to catch two of the three concerto performances that different soloists were performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The one I soloist I missed: Alisa Weilerstein. At the time, someone told me I had made a mistake. Judging by the strength of … Continue reading →

Appointments / Auditions & Appointments / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Julien Beaudiment offered LA Phil’s Principal Flute chair

Posted on June 11, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • 2 Comments

Late last week, multiple sources started buzzing with word that the Los Angeles Philharmonic had finally filled their vacant Principal Flute chair. According to those sources, French flutist Julien Beaudiment was hired for the position. The current Principal Flute of the Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Lyon, he played a stint in Walt Disney Concert Hall this … Continue reading →

All Reviews / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

For your consideration: Kenneth Branagh’s version of “The Magic Flute” finally available on DVD in the US

Posted on June 11, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

Kenneth Branagh filmed his cinematic adaptation of Mozart’s The Magic Flute in the middle of the last decade as part of the 250th Anniversary celebrations for that opera. It was screened at the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals in 2006; however, it was not shown in United States theaters nor was it released on DVDs that … Continue reading →

Interviews / Music News & Info: Classical / Other classical music concerts and recitals (in So Cal and beyond)

An in-depth conversation with Thomas W. Morris, Artistic Director of the Ojai Music Festival

Posted on June 6, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • 3 Comments

Good news, Ojai Music Festival fans: your year-long wait for the next iteration of this wonderfully wacky artistic experience is finally over. Today marks the beginning of the 67th edition of this venerable Southern California homage to adventurous music. This year’s Music Director is Mark Morris (yes, the choreographer) — at first blush, a seemingly unlikely choice, … Continue reading →

All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

Seeing “Figaro” again: after Thursday’s performance, more random other thoughts about LA Phil’s latest gem

Posted on May 24, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • 6 Comments

I was so enthralled by the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s production of The Marriage of Figaro that I wanted — needed — to see it again. So last night, I decided to Tivo the King’s playoff game and head back to Walt Disney Concert Hall for another go at it. Turned out to be the right … Continue reading →

All Reviews / Los Angeles Opera / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

Appealingly over the top: Sondra Radvanovsky is an ideal Tosca for LA Opera, with ample support from Domingo and Caird

Posted on May 23, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • 1 Comment

If I were to look up “diva” in the dictionary, I’d half expect to see one of the definitions — maybe THE definition — to be “Floria Tosca.” The character after which Puccini named his famous opera has all the attributes that would come to mind when I think of a diva: petulant but passionate, … Continue reading →

Los Angeles Opera / Music News & Info: Classical

Photos from LA Opera’s current production of “Tosca”

Posted on May 22, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • 1 Comment

For your viewing pleasure, I’ve assembled various production and behind the scenes pictures from Los Angeles Opera’s current version of Puccini’s Tosca. Photo credits include Robert Millard, Los Angeles Opera’s website and Facebook page, Lawrence K. Ho of the Los Angeles Times, and Brian Lauritzen. In addition, click HERE for sketches drawn by Mike Sheehan … Continue reading →

Music News & Info: Classical

RIP Henri Dutilleux

Posted on May 22, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

Word comes from Paris that French composer Henri Dutilleux has died at the age of 97. Obituaries below from some diverse sources: Schott Music has a very detailed one HERE Tom Service in The Guardian writes a short obit HERE which links to a much longer article he wrote this past January about the composer’s … Continue reading →

All Reviews / Architecture / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

A magnificent “Marriage of Figaro:” LA Phil’s modern staging of Mozart classic is a huge success on all fronts

Posted on May 21, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

This past Friday night, the Los Angeles Philharmonic unveiled the latest foray into its three-year “Mozart/DaPonte Trilogy” project, the first ever performance (staged or otherwise) of The Marriage of Figaro in the orchestra’s history. It was glorious in every respect: visually striking, dramatically compelling, and musically excellent. Before a single note was played, one marveled at … Continue reading →

Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Photos from opening night of “The Marriage of Figaro” at Walt Disney Concert Hall (UPDATED May 21)

Posted on May 18, 2013 by CK Dexter Haven • 2 Comments

Last night, I had the good fortune to be able to attend the first performance of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s fully staged production of The Marriage of Figaro. It was, in a word, glorious. My full review can be found HERE. will be posted in the next day or so. In the meantime, please enjoy the … Continue reading →