A Selective Guide to the Arts in Los Angeles

Friday evening in Santa Monica, hear a great program with distinctive musical flavors from around the world that John Kennedy, music director for the Chamber Players of Los Angeles, assembled of “International Voices” for “Fireside at the Miles.”

Next weekend, don’t miss hearing (experiencing) the extended performances of Iannis Xenakis: Now and Tomorrow, with Los Angeles premieres co-presented with the Center for Experiments in Art, Information and Technology (CEAIT).  These three concerts at REDCAT mix electronic and instrumental pieces by, and inspired by, Xenakis, legendary pioneer of music and architecture.

Chamber Players of Los Angeles “Fireside at the Miles”

The Chamber Players of Los Angeles are committed to the performance of new and familiar repertoire.  This program of “International Voices” is a prime example with local composer Peter Senchuk sharing the stage with Dvorak.

Program:

• Los Angeles-based composer Peter Senchuk based his woodwind quintet Three Pyansky on Ukrainian folk melodies.

• Soong-Fu Yuan’s quintet “Little Scenes from China (Zhong Guo Xiao Jing) is in traditional Chinese style in five short, contrasting movements titled New Year’s Day, A Little Boat on the River Li, Fast Ride on the South Sea, In the Moonlight, Thinking of a Place Far, Far Away, and Flower Drum Song.

• A great addition to the program is the twist of Bach and Brazil, with Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5.

• Czech composer Antonin Dvorak and his Quintet in G Major, opus 77 for string quartet and double bass rounds out the evening with his iconic nationalist fervor.

The core ensemble includes Larry Kohorn, violin; Alexander Wurmbrand, violin; Nicholas Yee, viola; Nicholas Bertani, cello; John M. Kennedy, double bass; Emily Senchuk, flute/sopilka; Dana Sundene, oboe; Lisa Kohorn, clarinet; Anthony Parnther, bassoon; Emily Reppun, French horn; Grace Lee, soprano; Satik Andriassian, guitar.

Friday, Jan. 21, 8 p.m.

The Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica

Tickets: $10/ $5 seniors, students

For information, call (310) 458-8634.

The 1929 Spanish Revival Miles Memorial Playhouse is in the heart of Santa Monica.  Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Event parking is free at the Miles in the underground parking structure at 808 Wilshire Blvd. (just south of Wilshire on east side of Lincoln; mention “Miles Playhouse” for your validated ticket).

CEAIT Festival: Iannis Xenakis: Now and Tomorrow

The Center for Experiments in Art, Information and Technology will be at REDCAT for three concerts that mix electronic and instrumental pieces by, and inspired by, Iannis Xenakis, legendary pioneer of new music and architecture.

The concerts are presented in conjunction with the exhibition Iannis Xenakis: Composer, Architect, Visionary at MOCA Pacific Design Center.  The complete program encompasses three performance sessions spanning the entire weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday that feature new pieces by composers inspired by Xenakis along with the artist’s own electronic works, including his powerful Pour la Paix, about war for actors with choir and electronic sounds.  Guest artists include cellist Rohan de Saram, composer Curtis Roads, and remix and sound artist Takuro Mizuta Lippit.

Friday, Jan. 28

Dmaathen (1976): Claire Chenette, oboe; Matthew Cook, percussion

Linaia-Agon (1972): Trio Kobayashi, brass trio game piece

• Takuro Mizuta Lippit (dj sniff): New Work

Orient-Occident (1991): Electroacoustic, mixed by Maggi Payne

Diamorphoses (1957): Electroacoustic, mixed by Maggi Payne

Saturday, Jan. 29

Achorripsis (1957): Chamber orchestra

Nomos Alpha (1966): Rohan de Saram, cello

Charisma (1971): Rohan de Saram, cello

Kottos (1977): Rohan de Saram, cello

Analogique A + B (1958/9); Violins, celli, basses and tape (Analogique B)

Pour la Paix (1981): Speakers, chorus, and electroacoustics

Sunday, Jan. 30

• Curtis Roads: New Work, with Brian O’Reilly, video

Akanthos (1977); Maurita Thornburgh, soprano and chamber ensemble

Polytope de Cluny (1972); Electroacoustic; mixed by Curtis Roads

Dikhthas (1979); Mark Menzies, violin; Dvozig Markarian, piano

Epicycle (1989); Eriak Duke-Kirkpatrick, solo cello and ensemble

In addition to the performances, A Forum: Hearing and Seeing Xenakis features guest speakers and videos of Xenakis’ own commentary and demonstrations. These pre-concert presentations take place Jan. 29 and 30 in the Ahmanson Auditorium, MOCA Grand Avenue.

REDCAT, 631 West Second St., LA

Tickets: $25/$20 students/$12 CalArts

For information, call (213) 237-2800.

These events were selected from among those listed in Jim Eninger’s Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter, an extensive calendar of upcoming music events, large and small, happening all around Los Angeles.