Category Archives: Pacific Symphony

Comings and goings at the LA Phil and beyond (End of Summer 2018 edition)
Appointments / Auditions & Appointments / Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Pacific Symphony

Comings and goings at the LA Phil and beyond (End of Summer 2018 edition)

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Hello again, folks. Long time no chat.  Hope you’re well. It’s obviously been a while, and so let’s start getting caught up by talking about some key personnel moves across the Southern California orchestral landscape and beyond. New additions to the LA Phil (official and unofficial) Since the beginning of the calendar year, the Los … Continue reading →

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

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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 →

Carl St.Clair leads Pacific Symphony in persuasive Mahler 5th, quiet Bach
All Reviews / Music News & Info: Classical / Pacific Symphony / Reviews 2012/2013

Carl St.Clair leads Pacific Symphony in persuasive Mahler 5th, quiet Bach

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Last Friday, Carl St.Clair and the Pacific Symphony took on two seemingly disparate giants of the orchestral repertoire, Johann Sebastian Bach and Gustav Mahler. The program notes mentioned Mahler’s interest in Bach’s counterpoint during the time he wrote his Fifth Symphony, spurring the creation of some contrapuntal elements of the score.  It made sense in … Continue reading →

The inaugural edition of “All is Yar’s Most Favorite and Noteworthy Classical Music Stuff of the Year”
All Reviews / Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Los Angeles Master Chorale / Los Angeles Opera / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Other classical music concerts and recitals (in So Cal and beyond) / Pacific Symphony / Philharmonic Society of Orange County / Reviews 2011/2012 / Reviews 2012/2013 / Southwest Chamber Music / Uncategorized

The inaugural edition of “All is Yar’s Most Favorite and Noteworthy Classical Music Stuff of the Year”

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As we reach the end of December, it’s traditionally time for a retrospective look at the year that is just completed.  Since 2012 was the first full calendar year of All is Yar‘s existence, it’s an especially important one for me.  I’ve been fortunate — dare I say “blessed” — to have been able to … Continue reading →

Humor / Music News & Info: Classical / Pacific Symphony

Some much needed levity, of both high brow and low brow variety

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I was going to finish my review of this past Saturday’s Los Angeles Philharmonic Mahler 5 concert, or of András Schiff‘s sparkling take on Book 2 of The Well-Tempered Clavier before that, or the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s excellent organ concert before both of them. Instead, I figured I’d post a couple of funny things to … Continue reading →

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

A March full of music

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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 →

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

LA Phil and Pacific Symphony both announce 2012/2013 seasons

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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 →

Auditions & Appointments / Music News & Info: Classical / Pacific Symphony

Finding flutists for orchestras in The OC, Oregon, and San Diego

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In what has become a nearly annual event, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has named a new Principal Flute:  this time around, the winner is Benjamin Smolen, the current Principal Flute of the Battle Creek Symphony. Mr. Smolen has played as a guest with the Pacific Symphony before.  Now that he’s got the full-time gig, let’s hope … Continue reading →