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
Category Archives: Music News & Info: Classical
Meeting Mozart
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
A little later than I thought
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
Two women and an orchestra: Emmanuelle Haïm and Sonya Yoncheva debut with the LA Phil in an all-Händel program
On paper, Sunday afternoon’s concerts belonged to conductor Emmanuelle Haïm. The reality was that and much more. Ms. Haïm dominated the concert. Many musicians had solo turns of one sort or another, and two — oboist Ariana Ghez and recorder player (or is it recordist?) Rotem Gilbert — even played front and center. Yet when it was … Continue reading
RIP Irving Geller
Irving Geller, former Associate Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and first violin with the orchestra from 1951-1999, passed away on November 16, 2011. He was 85 years old. Mr. Geller joined the LA Phil as one of its youngest members after having served as Assistant Concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony for three years. … Continue reading
All Reviews / Music News & Info: Classical / New York / Other classical music concerts and recitals (in So Cal and beyond) / Reviews 2011/2012 / Travel
Thoughts on Haitink, the New York Philharmonic, and Avery Fisher Hall
As previously mentioned, I made a “game day decision” last Saturday night to see Bernard Haitink conduct the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall. Note that I listed Mr. Haitink’s name first, then the orchestra, then the hall: chalk up the opportunity to see the legendary Dutch conductor in person for the first time … Continue reading
Free performance of Ives piano sonata by Susan Svrček this coming Sunday
Let’s face it: you and I are always up for a bargain, especially when the product is quality live music and the price is “free-fifty-free.” On Sunday, November 20th, Pianist Susan Svrček will be performing the Piano Sonata No. 2 “Concord Sonata” by Charles Ives at 4pm at the Steinway Piano Gallery in West Hollywood. Admission is … Continue reading
Game day decision: Haitink and the New York Philharmonic
It is my last full day in NY, and as luck would have it, I was able to wrap up my Day Job responsibilities a little earlier than originally anticipated. After pondering some options, I decided to dash over to Lincoln Center to see Bernard Haitink conduct the “other” Philharmonic. The program is decidedly middle-of-the-road … Continue reading
Helicopters and the Hollywood Bowl: falling on deaf ears
If you think that the number of helicopters visiting the Hollywood Bowl mid-concert has been increasing, you’re not the only one. In today’s Los Angeles Times, Deborah Borda (Los Angeles Philharmonic President) says: “It’s always been a problem, but now it’s every concert. Not almost every concert, but every concert, multiple times. And it … Continue reading
Yuja Wang and James Conlon triumph with the LA Phil
Yuja Wang is the real deal. If there was any doubt that might have crept in as to whether or not she was a “serious” pianist and/or musician based on a spate of recent cancellations and a critic’s unfortunate comments about her attire at the Hollywood Bowl, let them be put to rest after this … Continue reading
The world we live in, and life in general: LA Phil and Dudamel do Kurtág, Mozart (with Richard Goode), and Strauss
I almost always go to classical music concerts because I feel I must see/hear something on the program: a certain composer or his work, a soloist, maybe even a conductor. Other times it’s because I’m curious about a world premiere of a new work or a performer I’ve never heard before. This past Sunday at … Continue reading
Prokofiev rolls while Chapela tries to rock: Dudamel, Moser, and the LA Phil
“Let’s rrrrock this place.” Gustavo Dudamel wasn’t talking about the Prokofiev 5th Symphony when he made that comment from the stage at Walt Disney Concert Hall, but he could have been. In fact, he should have been. On a Friday night when the performance of a newly commisioned work for electric cello should have provided … Continue reading
Atlanta critics get some funding; a concertmaster proposes creatively hilarious ways to get some too
Arts critics have been under siege for the past few years. Many have been losing their jobs outright, while others have been asked to spend substantial time on other topics. So it came as a pleasant surprise to learn that in Atlanta, someone is actually giving critics money to write about the arts. Here’s the notice: Possible … Continue reading
Fima’s fractured finger
Just got this email from the Los Angeles Philharmonic: Yefim Bronfman, who was scheduled to play with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall October 13th, 14th and 15th, has fractured a finger and been forced to withdraw from these performances. Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 3 will be replaced by Suite No. 2 … Continue reading
Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone . . .
A smattering of things to bring up: Forgot to mention . . . I was remiss in leaving this weekend’s Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra concerts off my previous post of less-publicized upcoming concerts. Jeffrey Kahane and crew will be doing the Beethoven 3rd Symphony (“Eroica”) along with the Dvořák Nocturne in B major. Adding to the … Continue reading
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