Category Archives: Music News & Info: Classical

Salonen, Philharmonia bring a vivid “Wozzeck” to Walt Disney Concert Hall
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

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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
Music News & Info: Classical

Delta Airlines disses Lynn Harrell and his cello

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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 →

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 →

Catching up with the LA Phil: one post, three concert reviews
All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

Catching up with the LA Phil: one post, three concert reviews

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Continuing my efforts to clear my mental backlog of things I’ve wanted to write about during the past two weeks but couldn’t, below are my (slightly abridged) thoughts on three Los Angeles Philharmonic concerts from last week, specifically: Gustavo Dudamel’s multimedia concert featuring Ravel and Knussen The first Green Umbrella concert of the year, with … Continue reading →

Catching up with the LA Phil: trying to fill empty chairs
Appointments / Auditions & Appointments / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Catching up with the LA Phil: trying to fill empty chairs

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It’s been an unexpectedly unruly past two weeks for yours truly.  I squeezed in a few concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, but unfortunately didn’t have any capacity to do much of anything else, including write, until now. Time for me to start catching up.  Before we get into my views of the performances, let’s … Continue reading →

CD review: LA Master Chorale’s new Górecki recording is stunning
All Reviews / Los Angeles Master Chorale / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

CD review: LA Master Chorale’s new Górecki recording is stunning

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The Los Angeles Master Chorale and their Music Director, Grant Gershon, get ready to officially kick-off their 2012/2013 this coming Sunday. Among the music to be featured that night are works by Nico Muhly that they have previously recorded: Bright Mass with Canons and the West Coast premiere of A Good Understanding. All that said, … Continue reading →

Angela Meade brings added punch to LA Opera’s cast of Don Giovanni for final two shows
Los Angeles Opera / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

Angela Meade brings added punch to LA Opera’s cast of Don Giovanni for final two shows

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Los Angeles Opera made some cast changes for the last two performances of Don Giovanni, the most noteworthy being the addition of Angela Meade as Donna Anna (Julianna Di Giacomo played the role for the first five performances).  The winner of the 2011 Richard Tucker Award and the Met’s 2012 Beverly Sills Artist Award, Ms. … Continue reading →

A case of musical ADD: Andsnes and Dudamel headline latest LA Phil concert, but news of deMaine creates the biggest buzz
All Reviews / Appointments / Auditions & Appointments / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

A case of musical ADD: Andsnes and Dudamel headline latest LA Phil concert, but news of deMaine creates the biggest buzz

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The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s second week of concerts in the 2012/2013 season was clearly meant to be a contrast from the first.  After having regaled us all with a sparkling world premiere of Symphony by Steven Stucky and a romp through the modernist machinations of Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring), Gustavo Dudamel decided … Continue reading →

All Reviews / Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

LA Chamber Orchestra displays its range in outstanding season opening concert

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Do you have one of those friends that are good at seemingly everything they do?  You might already know that they’re like that, but when you see them in action you always have to shake your head in surprise and admiration. Jeffrey Kahane and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra are like that. They kicked off … Continue reading →

Make mine a double: season opener by Dudamel and the LA Phil was so awesome, I had to see and hear it twice
All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Reviews 2012/2013

Make mine a double: season opener by Dudamel and the LA Phil was so awesome, I had to see and hear it twice

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Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic opened their 2012/2013 season with a contemplative work by Ravel, a world premiere by Steven Stucky, and Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring). In other words, it was Retro Week at Walt Disney Concert Hall. This is exactly the kind of program which the orchestra … Continue reading →

A leisurely chat with cellist Daniel Rothmuller (part 2 of 2): the LA Phil’s former Associate Principal shares his stories, opinions, and post-retirement plans
Interviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

A leisurely chat with cellist Daniel Rothmuller (part 2 of 2): the LA Phil’s former Associate Principal shares his stories, opinions, and post-retirement plans

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Continuing the interview with Daniel Rothmuller, recently retired Associate Principal Cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic: In the first part of the interview (HERE), Mr. Rothmuller and I chatted about his influences as a newcomer to the LA Phil, as well as stories and opinions about various conductors – especially Carlo Maria Giulini – and … Continue reading →

A leisurely chat with cellist Daniel Rothmuller (part 1 of 2): the LA Phil’s former Associate Principal shares his stories, opinions, and post-retirement plans
Interviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

A leisurely chat with cellist Daniel Rothmuller (part 1 of 2): the LA Phil’s former Associate Principal shares his stories, opinions, and post-retirement plans

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If you’ve followed the Los Angeles Philharmonic at all during the past 40+ years, you’ve undoubtably seen Daniel Rothmuller.  He’s a tough guy to miss. In concerts, not only did his role of Associate Principal Cello put him at the front of the stage, he had the habit of being the only gentleman to liven-up … Continue reading →

An old-school Don Giovanni: Ildebrando D’Arcangelo stars in LA Opera’s latest production
All Reviews / Los Angeles Opera / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2012/2013

An old-school Don Giovanni: Ildebrando D’Arcangelo stars in LA Opera’s latest production

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Last May, the Los Angeles Philharmonic presented Don Giovanni with a vocally and visually strong baritone leading a solid cast in a thoroughly avant-garde production.  Beginning tonight, Los Angeles Opera presents the same opera, with another hunky baritone leading a another solid cast, this time in an unapologetically traditional production. Judging by Wednesday’s final dress … Continue reading →

Back so soon? Live tweeting Don Giovanni at LA Opera tonight
Los Angeles Opera / Music News & Info: Classical

Back so soon? Live tweeting Don Giovanni at LA Opera tonight

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Opening night for Los Angeles Opera’s latest production of Don Giovanni isn’t until this coming Saturday, Sept 22nd, but I’ll be back at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion tonight, live tweeting the final dress rehearsal.  Unlike last Saturday’s gala opening of I Due Foscari (The Two Foscari), this time I’ll be in the front of the … Continue reading →