Comings and goings at the LA Phil (Spring 2022 edition, part 1 of 2):  five empty chairs filled, including new Tuba and Associate Principal Bass
Appointments / Auditions & Appointments / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Comings and goings at the LA Phil (Spring 2022 edition, part 1 of 2): five empty chairs filled, including new Tuba and Associate Principal Bass

The Los Angeles Philharmonic has been busy trying to plug multiple holes in its roster throughout this season. The COVID-19 pandemic had prevented it from trying to hire anyone for over a year. That changed beginning Fall of 2021 when they held auditions for Section 1st and 2nd Violin and Fourth Horn. The orchestra followed … Continue reading

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has a new Principal Viola
Appointments / Auditions & Appointments / Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Music News & Info: Classical

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has a new Principal Viola

Yesterday, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra announced that Yura Lee will be its new Principal Viola effective at the start of the 2022/2023 season this October. The dual resident of Los Angeles and Portland is a lauded soloist and chamber musician on both violin and viola. She is also on the faculty of the USC … Continue reading

A chat with Whitney Crockett:  the LA Phil’s Principal Bassoon talks about his approach to <i>The Rite of Spring</i> and why this week’s performances required extra practice
Interviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

A chat with Whitney Crockett: the LA Phil’s Principal Bassoon talks about his approach to The Rite of Spring and why this week’s performances required extra practice

The Rite of Spring can be frightening for some bassoonists, but Whitney Crockett doesn’t really get scared by it. At least not anymore.  The famously high opening solo of Stravinsky’s ballet is something he started preparing in high school, and he’s worked on it over 1,000 times since.  The first time he played it in … Continue reading

A chat with Arturo Sandoval about tonight’s holiday concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Interviews / Music News & Info: Rock, Jazz, World Music, etc.

A chat with Arturo Sandoval about tonight’s holiday concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall

Arturo Sandoval returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall tonight to help everyone get into the holiday spirit in his own Latin-infused jazz style. Last week, funk/jazz musician Matt TC Lucas and I had the pleasure to chat with the legendary trumpeter about the concert and more. Here is much of that conversation: ————— CK Dexter … Continue reading

A chat with Tom Hooten:  LA Phil’s Principal Trumpet talks about the world premiere of “Shivaree: Fantasy for Trumpet and Orchestra”
Interviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

A chat with Tom Hooten: LA Phil’s Principal Trumpet talks about the world premiere of “Shivaree: Fantasy for Trumpet and Orchestra”

Tom Hooten, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s distinguished Principal Trumpet, was thrilled to learn that the orchestra had commissioned a new work featuring him as soloist.  His excitement grew when he found out that Steven Mackey would be the composer.  He was eager to jump in with both feet. Yet when he was told that Mr. … Continue reading

Turning off the lights to see better:  Ory Shihor re-opens The Wallis with Beethoven piano sonatas
Music News & Info: Classical / Other classical music concerts and recitals (in So Cal and beyond)

Turning off the lights to see better: Ory Shihor re-opens The Wallis with Beethoven piano sonatas

Last Thursday night, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills became the latest venue to re-open its doors to the public, ending 18 months of coronavirus-induced silence. Doing the honors was pianist Ory Shihor. The LA-based musician and educator was supposed to help The Wallis celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday year in … Continue reading

Tuesdays in July at the Bowl (part 1 of 2):  Alison Balsom and Musgrave trumpet concerto worth the wait
All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2020/2021

Tuesdays in July at the Bowl (part 1 of 2): Alison Balsom and Musgrave trumpet concerto worth the wait

The July 20th concert by the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl offered something for every kind of classical music fan. If you’re an aficionado of brass, it would’ve made you very happy. If you like hearing new music, there were two gems to enjoy. If you prefer warhorses, you got one on the … Continue reading

Kamasi Washington thrills in powerful and inspirational Hollywood Bowl concert
All Reviews / Music News & Info: Rock, Jazz, World Music, etc. / Reviews 2020/2021

Kamasi Washington thrills in powerful and inspirational Hollywood Bowl concert

Music is in very good hands whenever Kamasi Washington is around. Last week at the Hollywood Bowl, the Los Angeles native showed off his artistic depth and breadth to go along with undeniable technical virtuosity and bold creativity. He led his band through an evening’s worth of his eclectic yet approachable compositions that showed his … Continue reading

LA Master Chorale releases details of 2021-2022 season at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles Master Chorale / Music News & Info: Classical

LA Master Chorale releases details of 2021-2022 season at Walt Disney Concert Hall

The Los Angeles Master Chorale has announced its 2021-2022 season, featuring 10 different programs played over 14 nights. It will mark the group’s post-shutdown return to Walt Disney Concert Hall. Large works conducted by Artistic Director Grant Gershon will include Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil (Nov 20 & 21, 2021), Handel’s Dixit Dominus and Pärt’s Te Deum (March 20, … Continue reading

The LA Phil returns with a Hollywood Bowl season-opening night to savor
Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2020/2021

The LA Phil returns with a Hollywood Bowl season-opening night to savor

Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic returned to the Hollywood Bowl this past Thursday, their first subscription concert since pandemic restrictions had been instituted and subsequently lifted.  There was a paying audience in the seats, none of whom were required to wear masks or to socially distance.  Ditto for the orchestra members on stage, … Continue reading

VIDEO:  “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” by the US Army Field Band
Music News & Info: Classical

VIDEO: “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” by the US Army Field Band

Happy 4th of July, everyone! Enjoy this excellent rendition of my favorite arrangement (by James Neilson). 1st Lt. Alexandra Borza conducts. RELATED POSTS Musical “Fourth of July plumes” for Independence Day 2020 “Bravura,” a classic American march for July 4, 2016 For your 4th of July, music by the other American march king: Karl King Free patriotic music … Continue reading

Jaime Martin and LA Chamber Orchestra dazzle and inspire in their two-concert return
All Reviews / Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2020/2021

Jaime Martin and LA Chamber Orchestra dazzle and inspire in their two-concert return

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra finally returned to the stage this past week. And there was much rejoicing (yaaaaay). These weren’t the first classical music concerts in Southern California since the US began emerging from the haze of the Covid-19 crisis. The Los Angeles Philharmonic made that happen, playing two orchestral concerts at the Hollywood … Continue reading

LA Phil extends contracts of Herbie Hancock and Thomas Wilkins
Appointments / Auditions & Appointments / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

LA Phil extends contracts of Herbie Hancock and Thomas Wilkins

Two important artistic leaders at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association will be around for a few more years. Herbie Hancock and Thomas Wilkins both signed contract extensions with the organization. Legendary jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock will continue as Creative Chair for Jazz until at least 2023. His tenure had been set to expire at the … Continue reading

Things are looking up:  LA Chamber Orchestra to re-open Walt Disney Concert Hall with free concert, extend Jaime Martin’s contract, and more
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Music News & Info: Classical

Things are looking up: LA Chamber Orchestra to re-open Walt Disney Concert Hall with free concert, extend Jaime Martin’s contract, and more

Big news from the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra: First, the orchestra, led by Music Director Jaime Martin, will begin playing again this summer The initial concert on Saturday, June 26, will be at Walt Disney Concert Hall   It will be the first performance for a live audience at WDCH since the venue closed for the … Continue reading

REVIEW:  LA Phil livestreams opening concert of 2021 Hollywood Bowl Season
All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2020/2021

REVIEW: LA Phil livestreams opening concert of 2021 Hollywood Bowl Season

Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic launched its 2021 Hollywood Bowl season last night with a free concert for frontline and essential workers, their first performance for a live audience in over 14 months. Those unable or unqualified to be one of the 4,000+ in attendance could enjoy a livestream of the program via … Continue reading