Timeless like a broken watch: Marino Formenti in recital

Posted on January 9, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • 2 Comments

“I always hated the Diabelli Variations,” writes Marino Formenti. Coming from any other pianist, this would sound like a confession. Marino Formenti is not “any other pianist.” The Italian-born musician only began studying Beethoven’s meandering piano work at the recent request of Dean Corey, President and Artistic Director of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. … 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 →

Music News & Info: Classical

My musical resolution for the New Year: give Bruckner symphonies another chance (recommendations welcome)

Posted on January 3, 2012 by CK Dexter Haven • 8 Comments

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m conflicted when it comes to Anton Bruckner’s music. A cappella motets? Absolutely love ’em. Choral works with an orchestra? Sure. But the symphonies? Eh, well . . . I’ve tried, but now I usually make a point of avoiding them whenever possible. We have recordings of a few of the … 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 →

Music News & Info: Classical

The musical haul from this Christmas

Posted on December 27, 2011 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

Let’s see: The complete recordings of Martha Argerich on Deutsche Grammophon and Phillips (published by Decca) A Blue-ray featuring Ms. Argerich and Mischa Maisky in the world premiere of “Romantic Offfering,” a double concerto for Piano, Cello, and Orchestra by Rodion Shchedrin and the Sonata in A Major for Cello and Piano by César Franck, … Continue reading →

Music News & Info: Classical

“O Magnum Mysterium” by Tomás Luis de Victoria

Posted on December 23, 2011 by CK Dexter Haven • 4 Comments

The classic Latin chant about Christmas, O Magnum Mysterium, has been set to music by many distinguished composers over the centuries, ranging from Palestrina to John Harbison. Morten Lauridsen’s 1994 version has since gone on to be a modern-day classic and the best selling chorale octavo ever sold by the Theodore Presser Company. As absolutely amazing … Continue reading →

Music News & Info: Classical

“There were shepherds abiding in the field:” Sylvia McNair vs. Linus

Posted on December 18, 2011 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

I’ve enjoyed many performances of “Messiah” in person, on CD, and on video, and have also sung bass in my fair share of student, community, and semi-professional performances of Handel’s most famous oratorio. One of my personal favorites has always been a concert by Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony, with Sylvia McNair as the … 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 →

Music News & Info: Classical

Happy Birthday, Jean Sibelius

Posted on December 8, 2011 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

On this date in 1865, Jean Sibelius, Finnish composer and nationalist, was born. In his honor, below is a brief excerpt of his Second Symphony played by the Gothenburg Symphony, conducted by their Music Director, Gustavo Dudamel. If you want to hear the whole thing, here’s also a live recording of the whole Second Symphony conducted by Esa-Pekka … 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 →

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

Listening to “Sirens” without being tied to a mast: Salonen and the LA Phil with Ax, Hillborg, and Beethoven

Posted on November 30, 2011 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

Esa-Pekka Salonen is back, and there is much rejoicing. All the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Conductor Laureate had to do was merely walk on stage Sunday afternoon, and the applause was enthusiastic and loud cheers were already audible. He didn’t disappoint. The first series of his two week stint was vintage Salonen. Continue reading →

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

The LA Phil makes some more offers

Posted on November 28, 2011 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

Just a few months ago, the Los Angeles Philharmonic made a fairly big splash in the brass world by offering the soon-to-be-vacant (in 2012) Principal Trumpet chair to Thomas Hooten, currently principal of the Atlanta Symphony. Now it seems they’re doing it again, this time to fill the position of Principal Trombone. Multiple sources have … Continue reading →

Books / Humor / Music News & Info: Classical

Meeting Mozart

Posted on November 24, 2011 by CK Dexter Haven • 2 Comments

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you met Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? The REAL Mozart? Today? Stephen T. Harper, writer extraordinaire, did. Or perhaps instead of wondering, he and his awesome wife, Christie Harper, actually met the guy. It’s tough to tell . . . they are both friends of All is Yar, so you … Continue reading →

Music News & Info: Classical

A little later than I thought

Posted on November 23, 2011 by CK Dexter Haven • Leave a comment

I had finished my post of Bernard Haitink conducting the New York Philharmonic a few days back, but for various reasons (mainly due to more connectivity issues while traveling), it never got posted until today. I back-dated the post to the day I finished writing it (last Friday), but for your convenience, here is a … 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: Music News & Info: Classical

Timeless like a broken watch: Marino Formenti in recital

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

My musical resolution for the New Year: give Bruckner symphonies another chance (recommendations welcome)

WSJ article: “When Classical Musicians Call In Sick”

The musical haul from this Christmas

“O Magnum Mysterium” by Tomás Luis de Victoria

“There were shepherds abiding in the field:” Sylvia McNair vs. Linus

Happy Birthday, Ludwig van Beethoven

Happy Birthday, Jean Sibelius

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)

Listening to “Sirens” without being tied to a mast: Salonen and the LA Phil with Ax, Hillborg, and Beethoven

The LA Phil makes some more offers

Meeting Mozart

A little later than I thought