It’s a slow start to Boxing Day this year, which is just the way I like it. I’m still recovering from a wall-to-wall Christmas, which is, well, also just the way I like it. Yesterday was a wonderful escapade that started with cooking, ended with two bottles of 2009 Ravenswood “Estate” Zinfandel (which were extremely … Continue reading
Category Archives: Music News & Info: Classical
Five concerts, four conductors at different stages of their relationship w/ the LA Phil (part 3 of 4): Esa-Pekka Salonen then and now
When Esa-Pekka Salonen comes back to conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic, you expect finely polished performances of complex programs. In two weekends of concerts earlier this month, that’s exactly what you got and then some. E-P was in town to help the orchestra celebrate Lutosławski’s centenary, with both sets of programs featuring major works by the … Continue reading
Ralph Sauer performs the Bach Cello Suite No. 1 on trombone
For your listening pleasure on this Monday evening: Ralph Sauer, legendary former Principal Trombone of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, performs this rare — dare I say, “unique” — rendition of Bach’s ubiquitous Cello Suite No. 1. Yes, I know. . . . You’re welcome. ————— Photo credit: S.E. Shires Co. Inc Continue reading
Robert deMaine officially accepts LA Phil Principal Cello chair (UPDATED)
. Coming directly from the man himself — or at least his Twitter account — is this short and sweet statement from Robert deMaine: “I’m starting as Principal Cello in the Los Angeles Philharmonic officially on May 11. So excited!” Let me be among the first to congratulate Mr. deMaine and the orchestra on this … Continue reading
Andrew Bain and Dale Clevenger: two Principal Horns in very different situations
. One of the many quotes from my recent interview with Danny Rothmuller, retired Associate Principal Cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, that didn’t make it into my original posts (Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE) was the following observation: “French Horn is the only fallible instrument in the orchestra. Any other instrument, if … Continue reading
Jeffrey Kahane and LA Chamber Orchestra shed new light on familiar works
Saturday night’s Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra concert featured a first half with a rustic sensibility and a second half with an urban vibe. Both halves were anchored by an American classic in a less-often heard rendition: The country mouse portion featured Dvořák’s Serenade for Winds paired Appalachian Spring Suite in Copland’s original 1944 version. After intermission, … Continue reading
Five concerts, four conductors at different stages of their relationship w/ the LA Phil (part 2 of 4): Lionel Bringuier and the latest Green Umbrella new music concert
The first time I learned about Lionel Bringuier was in November 2006. The late great Alan Rich wrote about how the powers-that-be at the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the time — among them, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Deborah Borda, orchestra musicians, and board members — were blown away by Mr. Bringuier and named him Assistant Conductor at … Continue reading
Five concerts, four conductors at different stages of their relationship w/ the LA Phil (part 1 of 4): Vasily Petrenko conducts Nielsen and Shostakovich; Trpceski plays Grieg’s Piano Concerto
Based solely on what I saw and heard a couple of weeks ago, I’d guess that Vasily Petrenko and the Los Angeles Philharmonic have a good thing going. Throw in the fact that Rick Schultz said in the Los Angeles Times that Mr. Petrenko “made a deeply felt, unforgettable impression” at his January 2010 debut with … Continue reading
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Los Angeles Master Chorale / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical
Upcoming concerts that will hopefully make it a musical December to remember
Here are the Southern California musical events happening in the coming month which are grabbing my attention, and that should be grabbing yours too: Jacaranda’s holiday-ish “Winter Dreams” Concert this Saturday Yes, ’tis the season for Messiah and The Nutcracker, but if you’re looking for something a little different, the intrepid folks at Jacaranda offer up this mix of … Continue reading
The LA Phil’s new brass principals are definitely making their presence felt
Despite my tardiness, I’ve still been wanting to write about last month’s Los Angeles Philharmonic performance of the Mahler 5th Symphony. Sure, at least three loyal readers have been prodding me in public and private to do so. On top of that, the concert featured Daniel Harding, a conductor who hasn’t made a visit to … Continue reading
The latest from LA Opera: an enjoyable “Madame Butterfly,” a spectacular Pinkerton
Full disclosure: Madame Butterfly is not one of my favorite operas. I understand its popularity and appreciate its usual appeal to most of its fans (sweeping melodies, exotic locales, an easy-to-feel-sorry-for heroine, etc.), but no matter how many chances I give it, I’m never drawn into the music or the drama. Count me in the … Continue reading
Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone: “Casual Friday” with the LA Phil
On paper, Friday night’s Los Angeles Philharmonic concert seemed straightforward enough: a program filled with loads of well-known hum-along tunes, a beloved old-school conductor (Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos) on the podium, and a popular soloist (Lynn Harrell) joining in on the fun. In the concert hall, everything was generally as one would expect: the music … Continue reading
All Reviews / Music News & Info: Classical / Other classical music concerts and recitals (in So Cal and beyond) / Reviews 2012/2013
Salonen, Philharmonia bring a vivid “Wozzeck” to Walt Disney Concert Hall
Esa-Pekka Salonen is certainly among the most popular of classical musicians world-wide, but here in Southern California, it’s on a slightly different level. You’d expect the current Conductor Laureate and former Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic to have a strong following among the locals, and sure enough, he got a loud and prolonged … Continue reading
Delta Airlines disses Lynn Harrell and his cello
Lynn Harrell, cellist extraordinaire, is going to be performing the Haydn C Major concerto this week with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. Since he makes his home in Santa Monica, he’ll probably be driving, not flying, to rehearsals and performances. This makes for easy and non-controversial transportation for him and his cello … Continue reading
Some much needed levity, of both high brow and low brow variety
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
All is Yar 