Last year, at the world premiere of John Adams' passion-oratorio "The Gospel According to the Other Mary," I wrote an extensive review. At the time, I said I was "less interested" in seeing how Peter Sellars would stage the work in the future, than I was simply excited to hear the music again. Turns out, … Continue reading Postcard from London: The Gospel Truth
Postcard from London: The Music of the Future
On KUSC today, you'll hear me mention an ensemble called Future Band. Future Band is a group of a couple dozen musicians, ages 8-14, from all over London. The ensemble has no set instrumentation, the members write their own music, and it is open to just about anyone. Future Band meets during school vacation periods … Continue reading Postcard from London: The Music of the Future
Arrival in London
Greetings from London! After a long, bumpy flight--complete with a two-hour line for a manual check-in with handwritten boarding passes (ask me about that later when I'm not grumpy)--I, along with 10 YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) musicians, ages 14-16 arrived in London town this morning. We were immediately greeted by something quite familiar to … Continue reading Arrival in London
Remembering Van Cliburn: “The Texan Who Conquered Russia”
"I do not have fingers. I have ten voices and they must all sing." Van Cliburn Against the backdrop of the Cold War and the Space Race, a lanky 23-year-old classical pianist burst onto the scene as an unlikely ambassador of cultural understanding. At the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition, Van Cliburn won the … Continue reading Remembering Van Cliburn: “The Texan Who Conquered Russia”
Happy 100th, Witold Lutosławski!
"Composers are messengers from an ideal world." -Witold Lutosławski 2013 is a big anniversary year for classical music. It's the bicentennials of Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813) and Giuseppe Verdi (October 10, 1813); the centennial of Benjamin Britten (November 22, 1913); and the 100th anniversary of the premiere of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring (May … Continue reading Happy 100th, Witold Lutosławski!
Got $86? Want Wagner?
With the Fiscal Cliff™ negotiations behind us and the payroll tax holiday officially over, households making $75,000 a year will see their taxes increase by about $70-$80 per month. As our dollars seem to get us less and less each year, we have to look for better and better bargains. Thankfully, for fans of the … Continue reading Got $86? Want Wagner?
Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic on Stravinsky’s Rite
This weekend, the LA Philharmonic performs Igor Stravinsky's seminal masterpiece, The Rite of Spring, with music director Gustavo Dudamel. The concerts mark the opening of the 2012-13 season at Walt Disney Concert Hall. I spoke with Dudamel as well as several members of the LA Phil about what it's like to perform The Rite. Here … Continue reading Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic on Stravinsky’s Rite
Gustavo is America and You Can Too
Like the best summer tomatoes, Thursday night's LA Philharmonic concert at the Hollywood Bowl was one to savor. Of the six performances conducted by Gustavo Dudamel at the Bowl this year, this was certainly the musician's concert of the bunch. No superstar soloists, like Yo-Yo Ma or Plácido Domingo, and a 12-tone piano concerto to … Continue reading Gustavo is America and You Can Too
A Conversation With Gustavo Dudamel: “Classical Music Really Is Changing”
Tens of thousands of classical music fans have been streaming to the Hollywood Bowl this week as LA Philharmonic music director Gustavo Dudamel has set up shop there for his annual summer residency. And the crowds are only expected to get larger in the week ahead, as Dudamel conducts a concert performance of Verdi’s opera … Continue reading A Conversation With Gustavo Dudamel: “Classical Music Really Is Changing”
LA Phil/KUSC Hollywood Bowl Broadcasts
I'm proud to announce this summer's roster of radio broadcasts of the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. Concerts will air in their entirety, Saturday afternoons at 2:00, beginning August 11th on Classical KUSC. Yours truly hosts. Some of the series highlights for me: -every classical concert conducted by Gustavo Dudamel -Edgar Meyer's new Double … Continue reading LA Phil/KUSC Hollywood Bowl Broadcasts
Brian Lauritzen 