February at Disney Hall
Even though February is the shortest month, it is still jam-packed with great performances led by a host of world-renowned conductors at Disney Hall. Starting on Friday, Feb. 5, Herbert Blomstedt conducts the LA Phil in performances of Haydn’s Symphony No. 101, The Clock, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. The program repeats Saturday and Sunday, [...]
[continue reading...]Classical Music and Opera
Classical Focus, Feb. 7 – 11 Two outstanding clarinetists are in concert this weekend: noted young Spanish virtuoso Jose Franch-Ballester is performing with Camerata Pacifica, and well-known local artist Margaret Thornhill is in concert with cellist Roger Lebow and pianist Twyla Meyer in Pasadena playing works that span 200 years of clarinet trio repertoire.
Two extraordinary Baroque events are on stage at [...]
Music Review: Pacific Serenades The opening concert of Pacific Serenades’ 24th season certainly fulfilled their mission: to generate new chamber music by commissioning works and presenting them alongside standard repertoire in intimate concert settings, emphasizing the wonderful talents of Southern California musicians. The Neighborhood Church of Pasadena, where I heard their program on Jan. 31, is an ideal setting [...]
Art and Museums
Rauschenberg and Cage at Armory Center for the Arts “Rauschenberg at Gemini” continues through March 21 at the Armory Center for the Arts. Curator Jay Belloli has assembled many of Robert Rauschenberg’s most famous prints, print series, and multiples produced between 1967 and 2001 at Gemini G.E.L., the world-famous multiples workshop in Los Angeles, which was organized in 1966 and is still run by [...]
‘Art of Motion Picture Costume Design’ at FIDM Visit the FIDM Museums & Galleries for the chance to see the work of award-winning costume designers in exquisite detail, as the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising presents the 18th annual “Art of Motion Picture Costume Design” exhibition Feb. 9 through April 17. In addition to costumes from 2009 films, designs worn by Keira [...]
Books and Lectures
The Art of Bookmaking at Narrow Books In the heyday of Kindle and Google Books, print literature often goes the way of the handwritten letter – which is to say, the digital way. Narrow Books, owned and operated by LA locals Christopher Lepkowski and Mark Dischler, goes the way of literary art.
With bindings and paper to give a stationery enthusiast goosebumps, titles [...]
Neil Gaiman at UCLA Live The film adaptation of his Coraline is Oscar-nominated for Best Animated Feature Film, his Graveyard Book won 2009’s Newbery Medal, and his bees won him a blue ribbon for honey in the county fair. Neil Gaiman, ladies and gentlemen, is a talented man.
During his appearance at UCLA Live on Feb. 4, Gaiman assured the audience [...]
Theater and Dance
‘Waiting for Godot’ in Glendale Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” was an instant success when it debuted at the Théatre de Babylone in Paris in January 1953. It ran for 400 performances and received critical praise from such writers as Tennessee Williams, Jean Anouilh, Thornton Wilder and William Saroyan. Greeted with jeers and boos from some audience members at its [...]
Low-tech Dance at Anatomy Riot The genius loci of modern dance in Los Angeles can certainly be found at Anatomy Riot. On Monday night, Riot #35 (which was more like a peaceable gathering) brought familiar faces from companies and improv jams alike to MiMoDa, a studio venue in West LA. There were no programs, and this reviewer took no notes. [...]
Entertainment and Events
A Few Ways to Help We are reprinting information from the Santa Monica Museum of Art and Union Station Homeless Services about how you can help the homeless this holiday season, starting with food drives this weekend.
Santa Monica Museum of Art
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, join SMMoA for a food drive and Cause for Creativity workshop to benefit the individuals [...]
Laurence Juber’s Fingers Do the Talking Former Wings lead guitarist and acoustic guitar player extraordinaire Laurence Juber dazzled listeners last night at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica before an almost-packed house. Juber played two of his special Martin signature model guitars, one made of Madagascar rosewood (hopefully sustainably harvested) and the other of maple, using a variety of tunings that [...]
