The names on the program — Gustavo Dudamel, Yo-Yo Ma — were impressive, the kind that transcend classical music into the popular consciousness. The musical offering — Cage, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Adès, Mahler, Saint-Saëns — was noteworthy, both for its eclecticism and its ability to offer a diverse showcase for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Walt … Continue reading
Here in Los Angeles, we are still in the midst of celebrating season opening night concerts at L.A. Opera, L.A. Chamber Orchestra, L.A. Master Chorale, and L.A. Philharmonic, among other fine institutions. While my review of last night’s LA Phil gala is forthcoming, two sad stories from other cities remind us just how fortunate — … Continue reading
I am going to go out a relatively short limb and say that John Cage’s 4’33” is the most famous — even infamous — work in 20th-Century classical music despite the fact that only a few musicians have actually played — or “played” (said while making air quotes with fingers) — it. The three-movement work comes with … Continue reading
Of all the resident companies at The Music Center, the Los Angeles Master Chorale is the one that truly sets LA apart from other big metros. Orchestras, opera and theatre companies, even ballets, are a dime a dozen in other performing arts centers, but no one else can claim an independent choir of such high … Continue reading
The mood at Los Angeles Opera leading up to the beginning of this new season has been thoroughly buoyant, the result of a confluence of good news: After successfully dealing with a pulmonary embolism that kept him off stages and podiums all over the world, Plácido Domingo — the company’s General Director, überbaritenor, and part-time conductor — triumphantly returned to … Continue reading
(Publisher’s note. I’m thrilled to introduce the first-ever guest writer on All is Yar: Fiona Bryan. Fiona has a BM & MM in Violin Performance from Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University and University of Missouri, respectively, and has performed in various orchestras across the country. More recently, she’s been working in marketing, PR, and … Continue reading
As I mentioned in my previous post, Los Angeles Opera’s 2013-2014 season opens this coming Saturday with a revival of Bizet’s Carmen. Irish mezzo-soprano Patricia Bardon sings the title role, joined by the excellent male duo of Brandon Jovanovich (Don Jose) and Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo), with newcomer Pretty Yende as Micaëla. The final dress rehearsal … Continue reading
Yesterday afternoon, the good folks at Los Angeles Opera opened up their doors to the media for a behind-the-scenes peek at preparations for their season opening production of Bizet’s Carmen. Christopher Koelsch (President and CEO) gave a brief welcome before Rupert Hemmings (Senior Director, Production) led us onto the stage of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion … Continue reading
The management and musicians of the Los Angeles Philharmonic sent out a joint press-release today announcing that a new four-year contract has been ratified. High points of the agreement include: · annual increases to the musicians’ minimum weekly scale wages, which, in the final year of the contract, will increase to $2968.00. (NOTE: for you … Continue reading
When I was in college, I helped to resurrect the school’s defunct radio station and eventually became the station’s Music Director. It was the hardest I’d ever worked in my life — and the most fun I’d ever had too. I spent countless hours at the station, on air and off: studying, sleeping, listening to … Continue reading
Here are more pictures from last Tuesday’s concert at the Hollywood Bowl by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, performing Stravinsky’s Fireworks and The Rite of Spring and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with Augustin Hadelich. All images are care of the incomparable Brandise Danesewich, exclusively for All is Yar. To read my review of the concert, click HERE. The … Continue reading
There have been so many performances this season of The Rite of Spring (AKA Le sacre du printemps in the original français) in celebration of the work’s centenary that some people have expressed concerns that the work was becoming over-exposed. You wouldn’t have known it by the number of seats filled Tuesday night at the Hollywood Bowl … Continue reading
Here are more pictures from last Sunday’s concert at the Hollywood Bowl by Rodrigo y Gabriela, DeVotchKa (with The Section Quartet), and Lord Huron. Once again, all images are care of my good friend and photographer extraordinaire, Tim Strempfer, exclusively for All is Yar. To read my review of the concert, click HERE. The usual reminder: if you … Continue reading
When last we saw Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero — AKA Rodrigo y Gabriela — at the Hollywood Bowl, it was for their 2011 debut at the legendary amphitheater when they played two nights backed up by the full forces of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Between then and now, they appeared locally at smaller venues … Continue reading
Here are more pictures from last Saturday’s first concert of Southwest Chamber Music’s 2013 Summer Festival, their 20th anniversary season. All images are care of my good friend and photographer extraordinaire, Tim Strempfer, exclusively for All is Yar. To read my review of the concert, click HERE. One reminder: folks who use Google Chrome as … Continue reading
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