All entries by this author

Southwest Chamber Music’s LA International New Music Festival

May 13, 2012 | By Theodore Bell | Category: Classical Music and Opera

Opening night of the LA International New Music Festival on May 9 was a shining example of Los Angeles’ premier role on the cutting edge of the modern chamber music scene, and also marked a significant artistic achievement from Southwest Chamber Music.
The Festival, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of Southwest Chamber, will feature 25 [...]



Review: Chamber Music Palisades

May 7, 2012 | By Theodore Bell | Category: Classical Music and Opera

Delores Stevens brought her brilliant Beethoven touch to the Quintet for Piano and Winds for Chamber Music Palisades‘ May 1 concert. She and an elite ensemble of wind players, which included LA Phil principal clarinetist Michele Zukovsky, left Beethoven’s mojo smoldering in my reverie long after this unforgettable virtuoso performance.
Chamber Music Palisades is in the [...]



Classical Focus, April 16-22

April 15, 2012 | By Theodore Bell | Category: Classical Music and Opera

The Los Angeles chamber music scene is in high gear again this week with our best musicians and ensembles performing every day of the week – beautiful music is everywhere throughout the Southland, and some is free!
The early week belongs to Schubert.  On any of three days, starting Monday, enjoy beautiful all-Schubert programs from [...]



Review: LA Phil with Leila Josefowicz Play John Adams and Philip Glass

April 8, 2012 | By Theodore Bell | Category: Classical Music and Opera

Leila Josefowicz delivered a magnificent virtuosic performance of John Adams’ Violin Concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall on April 5.  Her selection for this role by Adams himself speaks to the integrity of her portrayal, and the Thursday night performance was truly unforgettable for her brilliant energy that is still [...]



Music Review: Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra with Jonathan Gold

March 25, 2012 | By Theodore Bell | Category: Classical Music and Opera

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Westside Connections series continued a three-concert celebration of food and music on March 21 with Pulitzer Prize-winning restaurant critic Jonathan Gold at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.
Gold’s witty introduction described the obvious synesthesia between taste and sound, and the anecdotes from his professional history as both music and food [...]



Music Review: Eteri Andjaparidze and Jennifer Tipton with ‘Spectral Scriabin’ at the Broad Stage

March 25, 2012 | By Theodore Bell | Category: Classical Music and Opera

Georgian pianist Eteri Andjaparidze and lighting designer Jennifer Tipton brought their unique light and music experience called Spectral Scriabin to the Broad Stage on March 19.  The show originally premiered in October 2010 at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City as part of the Lincoln Center White Light Festival.  Tipton’s lighting and [...]



Classical Focus, March 11-18

March 10, 2012 | By Theodore Bell | Category: Classical Music and Opera

Start your week with this month’s edition of Southwest Chamber Music’s Cage 2012 Festival in Pasadena, then next weekend don’t miss the continuing Piatigorsky International Cello Festival.  Or you can hear Emanuel Ax, Eteri Andjaparidze, the Juilliard String Quartet, Jacaranda’s “music at the edge,” and a fabulous program at Chamber Music Palisades with the Lyris [...]



Review: Martin Chalifour and LA Phil in West Coast Premiere of Matheson Violin Concerto

March 5, 2012 | By Theodore Bell | Category: Classical Music and Opera

Martin Chalifour was brilliant in the West Coast premiere of James Matheson’s Violin Concerto on March 2 at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The Concerto was co-commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was premiered in both venues, by different conductors, with different soloists.  The Chicago premiere featured Baird Dodge and Esa-Pekka [...]



Le Salon de Musiques

March 2, 2012 | By Theodore Bell | Category: Classical Music and Opera

Le Salon de Musiques magically transformed the fifth-floor banquet room at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion into an intimate salon space for sharing the joy of their special music on Sunday, Feb. 26.  Music Director Francois Chouchan combined Impressionists Gabriel Fauré and Francis Poulenc with an interesting variant from across the channel by English composer Sir [...]



Classical Focus: Feb. 20 – 26

February 20, 2012 | By Theodore Bell | Category: Classical Music and Opera

Los Angeles has such a diverse chamber music scene!  We can only marvel at the breadth and depth of our local culture from the antiquities to the cutting edge, and it is so accessible. Here are a few of these great events sampled from every day of the week.
Open the week Monday with the Musica [...]