Concert and opera reviews from Southern California.
At Santa Monica’s First Presbyterian Church last Sunday, twenty-year-old pianist and composer Talon Smith was joined by two members of the L.A. Phil in a recital…
Read MoreThe superlative playing of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was evident from the first bars of Beethoven’s Seventh. The strings sounded full, warm and rich with the double-basses providing a firm foundation.
Read MoreOver a span of two days (December 17-18), the LA Phil demonstrated its astonishing virtuosity and versatility by playing a dark tragic opera and a lighthearted ballet back to back.
Read MoreIn a span of two weeks, we heard the L.A. Phil play under two exciting new conductors – Xian Zhang from China, Gustavo Gimeno from Spain – who also introduced intriguing new works by their prospective countrymen.
Read MoreAfter six years at the helm of Birmingham, Mirga is taking her UK orchestra to the U.S. for an eight-city farewell tour (Los Angeles being their third stop on Wednesday, October 12.)
Read MoreSpanish violinist María Dueñas played like a force of nature and with a winning smile, even after she broke the strings on her Strad…
Read MoreSamy Moussa’s Elysium (U.S. premiere) made a fitting companion piece to the mighty Beethoven Ninth, echoing these words from the chorale finale “Elysium… [where] all men shall become brothers”.
Read MoreFirst and foremost, Nobu is a fine pianist who has something fresh to say in Rachmaninoff’s well-worn Second Concerto, and says it eloquently and elegantly.
Read MoreThe Ukrainian national anthem preceded the Star-Spangled Banner, ostensibly to counterbalance the effect of the 1812 Overture celebrating Russian military victory.
Read MoreIn my view, this Dudamel-led reading at the Bowl was the definitive “West Side Story”, surpassing the film soundtrack in authenticity, breadth and depth.
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