Concert and opera reviews from Southern California.
The Philharmonia Orchestra, from London’s South Bank, is celebrating its 80th anniversary year (founded in 1945 by Walter Legge) and currently on a five-city U.S. tour…
Read MoreThe British-Canadian maestro returned this weekend with an enchanting program that spanned from modern American sparkle to timeless Arabian nights.
Read MoreUnder maestro St. Clair, the orchestral playing was lyrical, opulent, gleaming. The accompaniment to the “Sanctus” chorus and the “Dies irae” sections was splendidly apocalyptic.
Read MoreBeethoven's "Archduke" Trio opened the program with noble assurance. Bronfman played with a genial, singing tone in the opening theme.
Read MoreAlexander Shelley's inaugural concert as Music Director Designate of the Pacific Symphony. He will officially take over in the 2026/27 season and Carl St. Clair, the Symphony’s MD of 35 years, will become its Music Director Emeritus.
Read MoreIn transcribing Mr. Zvulun’s operatic staging to the Pacific Symphony’s concert stage, director Gregory Luis H. Boyle admitted having to redesign the video projections and the sets, but keeping the same costume and storytelling concept.
Read MoreThe hall on day 1 was decked out with lavish floral extravaganza, and on day 2 with giant poster boards of the Golden Hall (Musikverein), home of the VPO, and no flowers or fancy ball gowns.
Read MoreLim, who is 20, brought remarkable maturity to the music-making, tackling its technical demands with apparent ease while finding fresh nuances in this familiar work.
Read MorePatricia Kopatchinskaja was the soloist for the Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1. Her idiosyncratic, barefooted, neurotic manner of playing is by now familiar to her followers (and detractors).
Read MoreClaire Huangci was the pianist for Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini. Her virtuoso playing showed tremendous youthful enthusiasm and energy, at the same time engaging in subtle dialog with the orchestra.
Read MoreCLASSICAL VOICE - Lifestyle Blog for Serious Classical Music and Opera Lovers
