Well, the KUSC Classical Top 100 has been fully revealed and with it, some predictable results...and more than a few surprises as well. To recap, we asked KUSC listeners to vote on their favorite pieces of classical music and then we counted down the top 100 vote-getters on the air. You can view the entire … Continue reading The KUSC Classical Top 100 Analyzed
Mozart at the Bat
With opening week of the new baseball season upon us, I was thinking about the various songs the players choose for their walk-up music as they head up to bat. It's totally their choice and the picks range from something with a good thumping bass to get the adrenaline flowing to music of menace and … Continue reading Mozart at the Bat
Here’s the thing about Gustavo Dudamel…
I've never particularly cared for the third movement of Dvořák's New World Symphony. I mean, there's nothing wrong with it, but for me it has only ever been the thing that happens in between the serene beauty of the slow movement and the Jaws-like introduction to the finale. The third movement is fine. I've just never loved it. … Continue reading Here’s the thing about Gustavo Dudamel…
Le “Sakura” du Printemps
Were it not for sakura in this world, our hearts and minds would not be so serene and peaceful. -Ariwara no Narihira (825-880 A.D.) It's the most wonderful time of the year in Tokyo right now. That fleeting moment that comes each spring when the cherry trees do their best cotton candy impersonation and the … Continue reading Le “Sakura” du Printemps
Familiar Digs; Family Forever
The LA Phil wrapped up its Asia tour with two concerts in Suntory Hall in Tokyo. The stunning hall is tucked away in a labyrinth of office buildings, hotels, and the U-S embassy in the Minato district of Tokyo. It was the first hall designed by Yasuhisa Toyota and it was this hall that sealed the … Continue reading Familiar Digs; Family Forever
YOLA in Japan: Tokyo –> Fukushima
It’s kind of a chaperone’s worst nightmare—Tokyo Station at morning rush hour. Three rail companies and 14 different lines converge on this central station hauling more than 400-thousand commuters through here every single day. And today, among the throngs: 15 young musicians of YOLA. I’m happy to report that no one got lost or separated … Continue reading YOLA in Japan: Tokyo –> Fukushima
YOLA and the LA Phil in Boston
2014 LA Phil Radio Broadcasts
Below you'll find the complete listings of the 2014 LA Philharmonic radio broadcasts, which begin locally on KUSC this Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. (National syndication continues this season as well, with air dates/times varying by market.) A few things about this year's series, which I'm particularly excited about: 5 world premieres (all are LA … Continue reading 2014 LA Phil Radio Broadcasts
Street Symphony’s Musical Activism: “We’re creating deeply vulnerable spaces where we’re allowed to feel.”
“To send light into the darkness of men’s hearts – such is the duty of the artist.” ~Robert Schumann Schumann's simple creed has become the mission of a group of local musicians and musical activists known as Street Symphony: the brainchild of LA Philharmonic violinist Vijay Gupta, who tells me it grew out of a relationship … Continue reading Street Symphony’s Musical Activism: “We’re creating deeply vulnerable spaces where we’re allowed to feel.”
Come Inside: The LA Phil’s 2014 Throws A Giant Welcome Mat At Disney Hall’s Doorstep
In the LA Times this morning, LA Philharmonic president and CEO Deborah Borda said, “We've got the youngest audience in America, but it's got to get younger.” The LA Phil’s new 2014-15 season—just announced today—is a concerted and concrete effort to that end. Recently, the orchestra has conducted research that has shown that cultural consumers who have not purchased LA Phil … Continue reading Come Inside: The LA Phil’s 2014 Throws A Giant Welcome Mat At Disney Hall’s Doorstep
Brian Lauritzen 