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Music Preview: PACIFIC JAZZ ORCHESTRA BENEFIT CONCERT (October 10, 2026 | L.A.)
A JAZZY 60TH FOR CHRIS WALDEN Pacific Jazz Orchestra gathers some formidable friends for its founder’s milestone birthday I’ve seen jazz pianist Emmet Cohen in New York at least half a dozen times, and next to Sullivan Fortner, I can’t think of a pianist working today who leaves me more stunned. Cohen is one of…
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IN TEACHING MUSIC, THE EXAMPLE HAS TO BE THE REAL THING
Anyone who has tried to teach music at a distance runs into the same wall within about a week: the thing being taught cannot be written down, and it cannot be paraphrased either. A producer explaining why a hi hat pattern sits behind the beat can describe it in a paragraph, and the paragraph will…
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Music Preview: LOOKING WEST (MUSE/IQUE)
GO WEST, MUSE/IQUE From the open range to Hollywood, MUSE/IQUE explores the music that made the West a legend Just what made the cowboy one of America’s most enduring exports? The hat? The horse? Gary Cooper? Clint Eastwood squinting into the sun? MUSE/IQUE has another answer: the music. For Looking West: How the Myth of…
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Opera Review: MEROLA GRAND FINALE (War Memorial Opera House / San Francisco)
A FINALE WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE Merola’s newest generation of opera artists brings plenty of promise to the War Memorial Opera House The Merola Opera Program’s 2026 Summer Festival came to a celebratory close with its annual Merola Grand Finale at the War Memorial Opera House. Conducted by William Long and directed with aplomb by…
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Concert Review: GERSHWIN, BERNSTEIN & AMERICAN MOSAIC (National Symphony Orchestra / Renée Fleming / Wolf Trap / Vienna, VA)
AMERICA, ORCHESTRATED Bernstein and Gershwin soar, Renée Fleming enchants, and even the Virginia wildlife gets into the act Saturday night’s National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) concert at Wolf Trap is part of the nation’s America250 celebrations, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Conducted by Gianandrea Noseda, the wide-ranging program offers several perspectives on…
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Music Preview: A CONCERT FOR VENEZUELA (Gustavo Dudamel & LA Phil / Hollywood Bowl)
DUDAMEL’S FAREWELL BECOMES A HOMECOMING For his final Bowl concert as LA Phil Music & Artistic Director, Gustavo Dudamel turns the spotlight toward Venezuela What was originally planned as a celebration of Gustavo Dudamel and his extraordinary years with the Los Angeles Philharmonic has become something considerably more urgent. On Sunday, August 23, Dudamel conducts…
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Music Preview: STEVE SMITH TAKES OVER BIRDLAND (September & October, 2026)
FIVE WEEKS, FIVE WAYS TO KEEP THE BEAT From Rollins and Coltrane to Powell and Monk, Steve Smith turns a Birdland residency into a tour through jazz history Drummer Steve Smith is settling into Birdland this fall—but he certainly isn’t settling into a routine. Across five engagements in September and October 2026, Smith will move…
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Music Review: JOE HISAISHI FILM MUSIC CONCERT (LA Phil / Hollywood Bowl)
TOO MUCH AND NOT ENOUGH Glorious music, rushed through and overproduced Joe Hisaishi, one of the world’s great living composers, was last at the Hollywood Bowl in 2023, in what I considered one of the highlights of that year. Since then, he seems to be making Los Angeles a regular stop, which has me beyond…
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RELEASE AND DISTRIBUTION: THE IMPORTANT FACTORS IN MAKING AN EP
RELEASE AND DISTRIBUTION: THE IMPORTANT FACTORS IN MAKING AN EP Every musician and producer have been there. You’ve been working hard on a collection of songs whilst being tucked away in a recording studio in your home office. They all go nicely together, and you are happy with the final result. You’ve not quite enough…
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Music Review: BOB DYLAN AT WOLF TRAP (Wolf Trap / Vienna, VA)
THIS IS NO VICTORY LAP Bob Dylan continues to reinvent his music instead of reliving it There are artists who tour to recreate memories, and there are artists who perform because the songs are still evolving. At 85, Bob Dylan remains firmly in the latter category. His July 24 performance at Wolf Trap‘s Filene Center…
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Music Review: BSO: HAYDN, BEETHOVEN, AND SHOSTAKOVICH PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 (Andris Nelsons, Daniil Trifonov / Tanglewood / Lenox, MA)
A DEEPER DIVE PAYS OFF A weekend of rehearsals, lectures, and a superb concert reveals the rewards of listening deeply The Sunday July 19 program for the afternoon concert at the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer home, Tanglewood, included works by Joseph Haydn (Symphony No. 22 in E-flat, The Philosopher), Dmitri Shostakovich (Piano Concerto No. 1),…
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Music Review: DEFIANTLY JONI (MUSE/IQUE at Mark Taper Forum)
OUR HOUSE, JONI’S HOUSE MUSE/IQUE opens the door to Joni Mitchell’s world with fresh arrangements, stories and songs Joni Mitchell’s house became our house at the opening night of Defiantly Joni. Saturday night at the Mark Taper Forum, MUSE/IQUE opened the doors to an intimate and loving “house concert” featuring Joni’s most beloved songs—as well…
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Music Review: THE MUSIC OF US: FROM THEN TO NOW (The New York Pops / Carnegie Hall)
SOMETHING FOR ALMOST EVERYONE The New York Pops casts a wide musical net across two and a half centuries of American song. Although the first style of music most people think of when they think of Carnegie Hall is classical music, the storied venue’s grand Isaac Stern Auditorium and its co-inhabitant, Zankel Hall, quite regularly…
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Music Review: IF I AIN’T GOT YOU: THE BEST OF R&B (The New York Pops / Carnegie Hall)
R&B STRINGS ATTACHED The New York Pops dresses beloved love songs in elegant symphonic attire Love was in the air at Carnegie Hall on the night before Valentine’s Day as The New York Pops and conductor Steven Reineke turned their attention to the romantic side of Rhythm & Blues with If I Ain’t Got You:…
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HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR FIRST KALIMBA?
Welcome to the enchanting world of the kalimba, a captivating instrument that has charmed musicians and hobbyists alike. Known for its gentle, melodic tones, the kalimba is easy to learn and offers a delightful playing experience. With a variety of options available, selecting the right kalimba can feel overwhelming. From compact 10-key models to expansive…
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Music Review: GUSTAVO DUDAMEL: CELEBRATING THE MUSICIANS OF THE LA PHIL (Walt Disney Concert Hall / Los Angeles)
THE STARS WERE HERE ALL ALONG A celebration of the musicians who make the LA Phil extraordinary If you come to the LA Phil often enough, you’ll begin to recognize the individual players. Now consider how often you see them take center stage. Amazing players, all of them, but it’s unusual for them to be…
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Music Preview: ON THE TOWN in Concert (Carnegie Hall / New York City)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK… AGAIN After the success of Oklahoma!, Carnegie Hall launches a five-year celebration of classic American musicals. After the sold-out success of Oklahoma! earlier this year, Carnegie Hall and Orchestra of St. Luke’s are making concert musicals an annual tradition. They’ve announced a new five-year series devoted to classic American musicals, beginning…
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Opera Review: LA CENERENTOLA (Wolf Trap Opera / Wolf Trap National Park / Vienna, VA)
A CINDERELLA STORY THAT FITS THE SLIPPER Rossini’s comic gem sparkles in an engaging production filled with youthful talent Wolf Trap Opera opened its 2026 season at The Barns with an engaging and thoroughly entertaining production of Rossini’s La Cenerentola. Based on the beloved Cinderella story, the opera follows the gentle and mistreated Angelina as…
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Concert Review: BOCCHERINI & RACHMANINOFF (Pacific Symphony / Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall / Costa Mesa)
FROM STAGE TO SOUL Valentina Peleggi leads an evening that journeys from operatic spectacle to intimate confession Valentina Peleggi conducts opera for a living. She built her reputation in the pit, leading Rossini and Verdi in houses from Trieste to Seattle, and she walked onto the Segerstrom stage Friday carrying that instinct with her. The…
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Theater Review: THE MAGIC FLUTE (LA Opera)
CONLON’S LAST SPELL A beloved production returns as James Conlon brings his remarkable LA Opera tenure to a close James Conlon walked to the podium last Saturday night and the house was on its feet before he lifted a hand. Twenty years built that ovation. He gave the company its first Ring cycle and, with…
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