EVERYTHING YOU NEED
IN ONE DECKED-OUT HALL
The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Deck the Hall Holiday Concerts at Disney Hall are just around the corner, and the variety this year is awesome. Be enchanted by the ever-popular Holiday Sing-Along (Dec. 22 at 11:30am and 2:30pm), hosted this year by Melissa Peterman, who wows us every year at the Sing-A-Long Sound of Music at the Bowl; get enraptured by jazz great Arturo Sandoval and his Big Band’s Swinging Christmas (Dec. 21 at 8); get excited with the smooth but up-beat sounds of Herb Alpert & Lani Hall with The Manhattan Transfer (Dec. 20 at 8); be enthralled by the community spirit at the uplifting White Christmas Sing-Along (Dec. 23 at 3 & 8); get super-extra-elated about Pink Martini with Storm Large and China Forbes kickin’ it up twice on New Year’s Eve (at 7 and 10:30 on … you know that date); and A Chanticleer Christmas (Dec. 19 at 8) is guaranteed to be the best choral show of the season.
Named for the “clear-singing” rooster in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Chanticleer – based in San Francisco – is known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for the seamless blend of its twelve male singers, who range from countertenor to bass, and its original interpretations of vocal literature from Renaissance to jazz and from gospel to venturesome new music. You’ll be filled with the spirit of the ages by the ensemble’s immaculate phrasing, stimulating dynamics and polished, sophisticated presentation. Prepare yourself for an astonishing assortment of musical styles: European choral works, American spirituals, medieval chant and traditional carols. You’ll hear gorgeous works that span centuries from composers around the world.
He moves easily across many varieties of jazz and instruments ’” using his trumpet to produce a fiery assortment of resonances, interchangeably stately, amusing and starry-eyed. The mighty, vibrant, effervescent Cuban trumpet player, big band leader, and composer Arturo Sandoval ’” a protégé of Dizzy Gillespie ’” is such a hot commodity globally that L.A. is lucky to have him residing here. But rare is his appearance at Disney Hall. Everything has already been said about Sandoval’s superb phrasing and virtuoso technique, but did you know he’s also a father figure and teacher for emerging artists? No wonder his big band will be joined by the Notre Dame Children’s Choir.
The last time I saw Pink Martini play Disney Hall on New Year’s Eve, I was already wired after hearing them brilliantly execute an extended song list covering at least a dozen styles of music sung in eight different languages. But then this everlasting gobstopper of music turned patrons into a festive party which involved the peole dancing at their seats. Yet I was on my feet well before that: With a clever, daring, delightful, masterful, and sophisticated concoction of lounge, jazz, swing, samba, classical, and world music, this 12-piece “little orchestra” defied labels and winkingly dared us to stay seated. Plus, this year we are getting BOTH lead singers, China Forbes and Storm Large. Those who want to watch the ball drop from home can catch the 7pm show, but the hard-core ball-droppers will want to swill champagne and cha-cha from 10:30pm into 2019.
But a lot of experiences await you this year: enlivening, encouraging, enspiriting, exhilarating, electrifying. Take your pick, or pick them all at Disney Hall.
DECK THE HALL HOLIDAY CONCERTS
presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic
A CHANTICLEER CHRISTMAS
Wed DEC 19 at 8
HERB ALPERT AND LANI HALL * THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER
Thurs DEC 20 at 8
SWINGING CHRISTMAS WITH THE ARTURO SANDOVAL BIG BAND
Fri DEC 21 at 8
HOLIDAY SING-ALONG
Sat DEC 22 at 11:30am and 2:30pm
WHITE CHRISTMAS SING-ALONG
Sun DEC 23 at 3 & 8
NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH PINK MARTINI
Mon DEC 31 at 7 & 10:30
for tickets, call 323.850.2000 or visit LA Phil
