Los Angeles Opera gets to keep James Conlon around for a little longer. Yesterday, the company announced that the New York-based conductor will remain as Music Director through the end of the 2020/2021 season. His current contract was to expire next year. Mr. Conlon took over the position from Kent Nagano in 2006 and has been a huge presence ever since. Plácido Domingo, … Continue reading
Los Angeles Opera announced today that Plácido Domingo will continue on as General Director through at least the end of the 2021/22 season. He has held the title since 2003. (The complete press release is below) The tenor/baritone cum conductor cum impresario has a long and storied history with the company, going back to 1984 … Continue reading
It’s time once again to talk about one of our favorite topics: musical chairs in major orchestras, particularly the Los Angeles Philharmonic. There has been a lot happening since last we broached the topic, and by the end of the beginning of the 2016/17 season, one current principal will have retired and there’ll be three new … Continue reading
The Los Angeles Philharmonic announced this morning that Susanna Mälkki has been appointed as Principal Guest Conductor of the orchestra. The Finnish maestra’s tenure will officially begin with the 2017-18 season, with an initial contract to last three years. She will conduct three subscription weeks, Green Umbrella concerts, as well as other projects with the orchestra to … Continue reading
As I mentioned last November, Boris Allakhverdyan was one of two finalists in the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s open auditions to find a new Principal Clarinet to take over for the retiring Michele Zukovsky. Multiple sources have now indicated that Mr. Allakverdyan, current Principal Clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, won the last phase of the audition … Continue reading
Once again, I do what I can to give you the latest and greatest news about the musicians of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Let’s begin: Principal Flute Denis Bouriakov officially begins his tenure as Principal Flute Nov 30. He makes his subscription concert debut soon after. (NOTE: an earlier version of this post had his start … Continue reading
This year’s Hollywood Bowl season is upon us. Things kicked-off a few weeks ago, care of Journey, Ed Sheeran, and a sing-along Sound of Music, among other concerts. The Los Angeles Philharmonic made their summer debut on the Bowl stage playing the score to Back to the Future while the film was shown above their heads, though the … Continue reading
Earlier today, the Los Angeles Master Chorale announced that Jean Davidson will be its new President and CEO beginning August 31, 2015. She takes over the position from Terry Knowles, who is retiring at the end of this season after having led the organization for the past 15 years. Ms. Davidson comes to the Master Chorale from New York … Continue reading
The New York Philharmonic has named Frank Huang as its new Concertmaster. Mr. Huang, 36 years-old, has been Concertmaster of the Houston Symphony since 2010. He is also on the faculty of Rice University’s Sheppard School of Music. He officially begins his tenure in September. The NY Phil’s concertmaster chair has been vacant since Glenn Dicterow retired last … Continue reading
The Los Angeles Philharmonic recently announced that this coming May, they will once again be holding auditions for their Principal Flute chair. For fans of Julien Beaudiment, the current occupant of the position and budding star within the orchestra, this news is certainly a major disappointment. For almost everyone who follows such things, musicians and … Continue reading
The San Francisco Symphony issued a press release today announcing that Eugene Izotov will be their new Principal Oboe beginning with the 2015/16 season. Mr. Izotov is currently Principal Oboe of the Chicago Symphony, and was the SFS Associate Principal Oboe from 1996-2003 (during which time he went by “Evgeny Izotov”). He was also Principal Oboe … Continue reading
The Los Angeles Philharmonic held auditions for their vacant third horn chair during the week-and-a-half before Thanksgiving. According to multiple sources, Amy Jo Rhine was appointed to the position. LA Phil concertgoers may recognize her face, and regular readers of All is Yar will certainly recognize her name: as mentioned in a recent post, Ms. Rhine has … Continue reading
I made the following update to my original post on the subject from this past Saturday, but in the spirit of providing some additional information . . . I’ve recently been told that at this point: John Sipher is the only remaining candidate for the open position of Principal Trombone with the Los Angeles Philharmonic His … Continue reading
Back by popular demand: our annual look at the changes in the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s roster of musicians at the start of this year. As usual, we’ve had a mix of arrivals and departures, some expected and explained, some . . . well, not so much. Let’s start with the percussion section. Principal Percussionist Raynor Carroll … Continue reading
Gustavo Dudamel is in the midst of a two-week stint at the Hollywood Bowl, conducting an eclectic mix of music ranging from the usual summer classical offerings by Beethoven to less common Bowl fare such as verismo opera and Pan-American music of various genres. Tonight’s program even includes the premiere performances of Mr. Dudamel’s own score for … Continue reading
