Saturday at Ojai: One for Two
Last night’s concert introduced us to the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Douglas Boyd. The major work was Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, transcribed for a chamber orchestra…
Friday Night at Ojai: Piano/Percussion
Pierre-Laurent Aimard is music director for this year’s Ojai Music Festival, and his program for last night explored music in which the piano is used as a percussion instrument, while…
Thursday Night at Ojai: Two Pianos
The 61st Ojai Music Festival opened last night. Helena Bugallo and Amy Williams, returning after their success two years ago in their performances of Nancarrow, gave us a great survey…
Last Night in L.A.: Eve Beglarian Premiere
The Los Angeles Master Chorale gave the premiere of a new work by Eve Beglarian for full chorus and two Persian instruments. The work is “Sang”, Persian for “stone”, taken…
Last Night in L.A.: “Partch” plays Partch
John Schneider and his group “Partch” gave their annual REDCAT concert of Partch’s music last night. The program included Partch’s film of U.S. Highball: A Musical Account of a Transcontinental…
Last Night in L.A.: Homage to 1960
This week’s Los Angeles Philharmonic program honored 1960, with three works composed in that year, a composer of a fourth (and major) work who was born that year, and performed…
Last Night in L.A.: Gubaidulina and Schnittke
One of the treats of the Los Angeles Philharmonic programming in recent years has been a series of related concerts on a particular theme of 20th and 21st century music.…
Dudamel and the LA Phil on radio
On Sunday, April 27, KUSC will broadcast (and stream on the internet) the program with Dudamel conducting the L.A. Philharmonic. It was an exciting performance, and I hope that comes…
Last Night in L.A.: Four Pianos for Eastman
Julius Eastman’s Crazy Nigger (1978? 1979?) was given its West Coast premiere last night at REDCAT. Three members of California EAR Unit gave up their usual instruments (flute, cello, percussion)…
Last Night in L.A.: The Rouse “Requiem”
Last night the Los Angeles Master Chorale gave the premiere of Requiem by Christopher Rouse. This is an excellent work. It is beautiful. It is emotional. It is powerful. It…