Music

BIG, MAGICAL & CLIMACTIC For the first Los Angeles Philharmonic performance of British composer Anna Klein’s This Midnight Hour, guest conductor Chinese-born New Zealander Tianyi Lu in a sparkly blouse conducted precisely and clearly but with incredible elegance, oftentimes pulling notes out of the instrumentalists like a single thread; her gestures reminded me like those…

EXQUISITE MUSIC BROUGHT TO LIFE BY LA OPERA Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Otello is a timeless masterpiece that showcases the composer’s genius in capturing the dramatic intensity and emotional complexity of William Shakespeare’s tragic play. The opera, which premiered in 1887, has become one of Verdi’s most powerful and musically captivating works, blending intricate vocal lines,…

JACOBS’ LADDER TO HEAVEN Courtesy of the LA Phil, the awesome organist Paul Jacobs came to Disney Hall on April 16 to delight us with a most exquisite rendition of the famous Six Trio Sonatas of J.S. Bach, BWV525-530. With a charming sense of humor, he addressed the audience with his vast knowledge, peaking our…

STORMS, ROLLERCOASTERS, AND TURBULENCE It was a wild night with the LA Phil at Disney Hall last weekend. For Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1, guest conductor Osmo Vänskä successfully immersed us in the young Brahms’s ominous soundscape. He let the music breathe naturally, holding out long rests unapologetically and often got down to the floor…

STASEVSKA, STASEVSKA, STASEVSKA There is much good news about this morning’s program with the LA Phil. Let me start with the most important. Dalia Stasevska, a 38-year-old Kyiv-born musician who lives in Finland, was the Guest Conductor (she is now the Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic). Say that Ukrainian last name over and…

DONE WELL INDIVIDUALLY, BUT A CURIOUS AND UNNECESSARY PAIRING Conductor Susanna Målkki returned to Disney Hall with a contrasting program of Antonin Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, Op. 46 and a U.S. premiere of an LA Phil commissioned Double Concerto by Felipe Lara written for Claire Chase, flute and esperanza spalding, bass and voice. The Slavonic Dances…

THE CRASH OF SYMBOLISM As part of its 2022-23 season, LA Opera is presenting Debussy’s one-of-a-kind enigmatic masterpiece Pelléas et Mélisande in its entirety,  conducted by Music Director James Conlon  at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion The production, which originated at Scottish Opera, was created by the internationally acclaimed director David McVicar. Tickets for performances March 25 through…

I TELL-A YOU, IS-A MAGIC! It’s a-me, Mario! And I’m-a tell you that Pacific Opera Project’s revival of The Magic Flute AKA #Superflute has a-gotta be seen to believe. Josh-a da Shaw take-a Mozart’s famous opera-a and-a turn it into a 90s’ Super-a Mario Bros videogame, and it-a work-a so well dat it’a come back-a…

The Los Angeles Philharmonic hosted two of the most proficient and popular concert pianists this week, both of whom proved why they are considered top-tier. In an exhaustive exhibition of Rachmaninoff — four piano concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini — superstar pianist Yuja Wang joined Gustavo Dudamel for a two-weekend set…

THIS CONCERT WILL BE ONE FOR THE BOOKS, AND WILL BE LIVESTREAMED FOR ONLY $19 While Ms. Joy had to cancel her original date of Feb. 11, and the March 26 show now sold out, don’t despair. You can still see her, as The Soraya is offering a livestream for only 19 bucks (get tickets…

HOW THE WEST WAS LOST AND BORING Under the baton of California’s own celebrity composer, John Adams, the LA Phil performed his Girls of the Golden West in a concert setting on Friday, January 27th. Premiered in 2017 by the San Francisco Opera, the work was conceived and co-created by librettist, culture maker and long-time…

HEIGH-HO, HECTOR! The full house at Walt Disney Concert Hall buzzed with excitement as fast-paced whispers reverberated through the crowd when Hector Olivera opened his solo organ recital by walking directly to the remote console on stage, placing his stuffed Kermit the Frog doll next to him, where the frog appeared to be waiting for…

DAWSON GETS HIS DUE IN LA PHIL’S FIRST PERFORMANCE OF HIS NEGRO FOLK SYMPHONY The swellegant Maestro Roderick Cox returned to Disney Hall with the LA Phil last weekend. Even knowing the talent of the conductor, players, and guest violinist Karen Gomyo, there were some surprises at this stupendous program. The first came before the…