Music

PHILLIPE JORDAN, LORD OF THE RING Little more than 200 years since the birth of Wagner, and the world still can’t get enough of the German composer. Love him or hate him, he is one of the most influential composers of the latter half of the nineteenth century. The musical innovator introduced many musical offerings,…

BURNHAM, BABY, BURNHAM When you first espy David Burnham on stage, his dazzling smile and chiseled looks belie the fact that he has a golden voice and boffo acting chops, both dramatic and comedic. When I first saw him in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the long-haired golden-throated tenor with teeny-bopper idol charisma stole…

PRIMO AND PRIMO A strange thing happened on the way to the duo piano recital of the once-married pianists Martha Argerich and Stephen Kovacevich at Disney hall last Saturday. A few minutes before the Debussy-heavy program began, the normal “turn off your cell phones” pre-show announcement (which doggedly refuses to castigate crinkling programs and whispered…

THOSE SUMPTUOUS STRINGS OF SIBELIUS Fresh-faced and vital, Finnish conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen returned to the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a program centered on Finland’s greatest composer, Jean Sibelius. I was somewhat concerned since a few separate music lovers I know found last Thursday’s performance, the first of a 3-performance weekend, underwhelming. I admit that there’s…

A LENGTHY BUT LOVELY OFFENBACH Just as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in the middle of writing his famous Requiem so did Jacques Offenbach die composing his fantastical opera Tales of Hoffmann. Both works have been seen as highly personal compositions: Mozart writing his own requiem and Offenbach standing in for Hoffmann, his protagonist. The similarities…

TETZLAFF PLAYS DVOŘíK There was atmosphere galore in Christian Tetzlaff’s intense interpretation of the Dvořák Violin Concerto last night at Disney Hall, but something was amiss’”or rather missing. This is precisely the type of performance that perplexes this critic: Everything is handled right by a soloist, well-steered by conductor, and executed perfectly by well-balanced players….

COMING AND CUMMING Gay men and show tunes? I know this sounds shocking, but I wonder how many of you know what a swell fit that is. And to prove it, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) continues  its super-spectacular 38th Season with He Had It Coming, a showcase of Broadway’s best songs for…

A NIGHT THAT WILL BE A DREAM Franz Schubert, the quintessential Romantic composer of the 19th century, was loved by Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, poet and director Samuel Beckett  above all others. Writing to his cousin John Beckett on May 11, 1975 about the experience  of listening to records of Schubert’s song-cycle  Winterreise, Beckett described himself as “shivering…

LYRICAL LYRIS COMES TO THE MUSIC GUILD How many times have I seen The Lyris Quartet perform? I’ve actually lost count. But each time, whether in an intimate space or a grand hall, whether mastering old masters or modern music, this Los Angeles-based string quartet Â always wins my heart. The Lyris Quartet also travels frequently, so…

THERE’S A REASON WE RETURN TO BRAHMS AND RAVEL Under guest conductor James Gaffigan’s assured leadership, the Los Angeles Philharmonic brought a fuller and more vibrant sound to two very familiar works: Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2, which was a dazzling experience, and Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 with Hélène Grimaud soloing. And…

THE MUSIC AND THE WORDS BEHIND THE MUSIC With astounding chromatic structure and continually shifting tonalities and rhythms, Debussy’s music has always mystified and transported me. Certainly many are familiar with “Clair de Lune” a piece from the piano composition Suite bergamasque; La Mer, a unique mix of tone poem and symphony; and Prélude í …

REAWAKENING A FAMILIAR CONCERTO It’s astounding to have heard countless performances of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto–both live and in recordings–and still be amazed that a newer interpretation can be so exciting, inventive, and breathtaking. Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili recently took me aback  with her release on  Deutsche Grammophon with the Staatskapelle Berlin (Berlin State Opera Orchestra)  led by Daniel…

TWO STORMS HIT L.A. THIS WEEKEND You think the winter storms slamming So Cal are something? Well, singer, songwriter, raconteur, author, actor, playwright, and powerhouse performer Storm Large is joining Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for a rare performance of The Seven Deadly Sins–and they’re coming to the L.A. area for two shows this weekend only,…