A March full of music

Posted on March 1, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

A smattering of musical stuff to check out over the next 31 days . . . Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s “Westside Connections” Margaret Batjer, LACO’s Concertmaster, curates this novel combination of food-themed music and discussion about gastronamy and the culinary arts. The first of three presentations is tonight and features LACO musicians being joined by … Continue reading →

All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2011/2012

Charles Dutoit leads a refreshing night with the LA Phil

Posted on February 27, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

A program of Stravinsky, Debussy, and Prokofiev may still be considered adventurous in some concert halls, but for many years, it was the norm at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The 20th Century French and Russian composers seemed to turn up on the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s programs as often (if not more so) than Mozart, Brahms, … Continue reading →

Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

RIP Lorin Levee, LA Phil Principal Clarinet

Posted on February 23, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • 3 Comments

According to KUSC’s Twitter feed, Lorin Levee, Principal Clarinet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has passed away. He was 61 years old. The information was retweeted by the LA Phil, so I’m guessing that the sad news is accurate. Thoughts, prayers, and condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. No additional details, andthe orchestra has … Continue reading →

Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Pacific Symphony

LA Phil and Pacific Symphony both announce 2012/2013 seasons

Posted on February 6, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • 2 Comments

The Los Angeles Philharmonic announced their 2012/2013 season today. Details can be found HERE. I haven’t had the time to peruse it in detail yet, so the bulk of my commentary is forthcoming. I did notice that the first subscription concerts for the season include: Los Angeles Philharmonic Gustavo Dudamel, conductor Ravel Pavane pour une infante défunte … Continue reading →

All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2011/2012

An old soldier: the Mahler 9th as done by Dudamel & the LA Phil

Posted on February 3, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

Clearly, Mahler was a guy who liked to think and compose about death. Musical allusions to it show up in all of his works being performed as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s “Mahler Project” (some may quibble about Songs of the Wayfarer, but if you’re singing about putting a red-hot knife in your breast, … Continue reading →

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

It’s official: Nitzan Haroz will be the new Principal Trombone of the LA Phil

Posted on February 3, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • 1 Comment

As I mentioned in late November 2011, Nitzan Haroz — Principal Trombone of the Philadelphia Orchestra — was offered the same job with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. A little over two months later, he decided to take it. Late yesterday, Peter Dobrin of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Mr. Haroz has officially accepted the position. … Continue reading →

Architecture / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Frank Gehry’s sketches for “Don Giovanni” at Walt Disney Concert Hall

Posted on January 31, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • 1 Comment

My guesses on what we’re looking at: The big sketch in the middle has got to be the stage with various characters (I count 5 on the stage). Behind and above them are two more figures, whom I think are some combination of Giovanni, the Commendatore, and/or the conductor. On the bottom right is likely … Continue reading →

Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / New York / Travel

Lincoln Center “Great Performers” 2012-2013 season announced

Posted on January 31, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

New York’s Lincoln Center has announced the line-up for their “Great Performers” series in the coming 2012-2013 season. Their press release (available HERE) leads by mentioning a visit by Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, specifically highlighting the New York premiere of John Adams’ oratorio The Gospel According to the Other Mary in a staged … Continue reading →

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

Promotions and additions in the LA Phil viola section

Posted on January 27, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

In case you haven’t been paying close attention to the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s roster (and who does, really?), the orchestra’s Assistant Principal Viola chair that had been vacant since the beginning of the 2011/2012 winter season is now filled. Ben Ullery, a former Minnesota Orchestra player who joined the LA Phil viola section just last … Continue reading →

Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Quick thoughts on the 2012 Hollywood Bowl Season

Posted on January 25, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • 2 Comments

It’s that fun time of year, a time full of hopes, dreams, and possibilities. Yes, I’m talking about 2012/2013 Season Announcement, um, season. Lisa Hirsch has been tracking rumors and reality for a few weeks on her blog, Iron Tongue of Midnight; up until now, it’s been limited to opera companies. The Los Angeles Philharmonic … Continue reading →

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

Gershwin played on both coasts; recognizing a Strad blindfolded; some orchestral cabbage + mac & cheese

Posted on January 6, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s all-Gershwin season opening gala may have occured many months ago, but PBS’s “Great Performances” is only now getting around to broadcasting the video from the concert — most of it, anyway. Better late (and abridged) than never. The first broadcast is this evening at 6pm Pacific Time (on KPBS and PBS … Continue reading →

Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

WSJ article: “When Classical Musicians Call In Sick”

Posted on December 28, 2011 by CK Dexter Haven • 2 Comments

An interesting, if not deeply revelatory, article in the Wall Street Journal was posted about how orchestras cope when conductors or soloists cancel due to illness. Chad Smith, Los Angeles Philharmonic Vice President for Artistic Planning, is quoted liberally throughout. The article makes a point of mentioning that replacements are often harder to find for … Continue reading →

Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Happy Birthday, Ludwig van Beethoven

Posted on December 16, 2011 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

The great German composer was born on this date in 1770. In his honor, please enjoy the iconic first movement from his Fifth Symphony, performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by the incomparable Carlo Maria Giulini. If you typically associate Maestro Giulini with interpretations that lean towards the broad and spacious, you may be … Continue reading →

All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2011/2012

Fashionably late: Salonen and the LA Phil take on lost-and-found Shostakovich

Posted on December 5, 2011 by CK Dexter Haven • 1 Comment

Esa-Pekka Salonen was back for his second week with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. With a world premiere of the abandoned opera, Orango, paired with the withdrawn-for-25-years Symphony No. 4, his all-Shostakovich concerts were a study of two contrasting works that had both been hidden and eventually brought to new light. To add to the lost-and-found theme, E-P himself … Continue reading →

Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Gustavo Dudamel and new music: some comparisons to Salonen (Part Two of an ongoing series)

Posted on December 3, 2011 by CK Dexter Haven • 3 Comments

With Esa-Pekka Salonen returning for a second weekend to the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s podium, and with me trying to kill an hour before tonight’s all-Shostakovich program begins at Walt Disney Concert Hall, I thought it was time to fulfill a promise I made in a prior discussion; namely, to compare Mr. Salonen’s penchant for conducting … Continue reading →

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All is Yar

by CK Dexter Haven. Music, drink, food, and more. Living the good life in all of its many forms.

Category Archives: Los Angeles Philharmonic

A March full of music

Charles Dutoit leads a refreshing night with the LA Phil

RIP Lorin Levee, LA Phil Principal Clarinet

LA Phil and Pacific Symphony both announce 2012/2013 seasons

An old soldier: the Mahler 9th as done by Dudamel & the LA Phil

It’s official: Nitzan Haroz will be the new Principal Trombone of the LA Phil

Frank Gehry’s sketches for “Don Giovanni” at Walt Disney Concert Hall

Lincoln Center “Great Performers” 2012-2013 season announced

Promotions and additions in the LA Phil viola section

Quick thoughts on the 2012 Hollywood Bowl Season

Gershwin played on both coasts; recognizing a Strad blindfolded; some orchestral cabbage + mac & cheese

WSJ article: “When Classical Musicians Call In Sick”

Happy Birthday, Ludwig van Beethoven

Fashionably late: Salonen and the LA Phil take on lost-and-found Shostakovich

Gustavo Dudamel and new music: some comparisons to Salonen (Part Two of an ongoing series)