In Classical Focus, Theodore Bell selects highlights from Jim Eninger’s Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter. Here are his top picks:
A brilliant constellation of instrumental luminaries will traverse the nighttime stages of Los Angeles this week. Renowned soloist Itzhak Perlman is at the Luckman Theatre on Saturday evening, pianist Piotr Anderszewski graces Disney Hall on Tuesday, and resolve to hear a splendid sonic “binary” as pianist Emanuel Ax joins Yo-Yo Ma at Disney Hall on Wednesday. Heavenly!
You can also scope out two very fine ensembles this weekend in Pasadena: Saturday, Southwest Chamber Music presents the music of John Cage surrounded by the art of Robert Rauschenberg at the Armory Center for the Arts; and Sunday, the Da Camera Society brings Trio Con Brio Copenhagen to the Arbor Dell. Look for Southwest’s continuation of the Cage program next month.
Itzhak Perlman at the Luckman Theatre
Itzhak Perlman performs at Cal State LA on Jan. 23. / photo by Akira Kinoshita, courtesy of IMG Artists
World-acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman will be performing this week with noted Sri Lankan pianist Rohan De Silva at the Luckman Theatre on the California State University Los Angeles campus. The promoter promises “an intimate evening of classics that will undoubtedly be a prodigious performance as only Mr. Perlman is known for.”
Saturday, Jan. 23, 8 p.m.
Luckman Theatre, California State University Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, LA
Tickets: $65 to $250.
Southwest Chamber Music presents Cage and Rauschenberg
Here is a great opportunity to experience the music of John Cage in a unique gallery environment of 50 pieces created by Cage’s friend Robert Rauschenberg at the Gemini G.E.L. studio here in Los Angeles. The Rauschenberg works are from the Stone Moon Series, Samarkand Series, and Cardbird Series, and feature the first poster for Earth Day.
Southwest Chamber Music‘s all-Cage program will feature “Child of Tree for Amplified Cactus,” Four for String Quartet, 27’10.554″ for a Percussionist and String Player with 45’ for a Speaker – “The Ten Thousand Things,” and the infamous 4’33”. The program will continue in February – stay tuned.
Saturday, Jan. 23, 8 p.m.
Pre-concert talk at 7:30 p.m.
Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
Tickets: $38 / $28 seniors / $10 students.
The Da Camera Society presents Trio Con Brio Copenhagen
Two Korean sisters, Soo-Jin and Soo-Kyung Hong (violin and cello) joined with Danish pianist Jens Elvekjaer in 1999 in Vienna to form the Trio Con Brio Copenhagen. In the decade since, the group has won top prizes in numerous international competitions and been heard in the finest of international venues. The program will include the Ravel Trio in A Minor along with Chopin’s Cello Sonata and excerpts from the Preludes, Op.28.
Sunday, Jan. 24, 2 and 4 p.m.
Arbor Dell, Pasadena
Tickets: $87, $63. (213) 477-2929
Pianist Piotr Anderszewski with the L.A. Phil
Piotr Anderszewski appears at Disney Hall on Jan. 26. /photo courtesy of LA Phil
Tuesday evening the Los Angeles Philharmonic presents a chamber music concert featuring pianist Piotr Anderszewski with members of the LA Phil at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The program includes the Beethoven String Trio in C Minor, Op.9, No.3, Franz Krommer’s Nonet-Partita for Winds, Op.79, J.S. Bach’s Sonata in E Minor, BWV1034, and the Shostakovich Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op.57. It should be interesting to hear and compare Beethoven and his contemporary rival Franz Krommer back-to-back.
Tuesday, Jan. 26, 8 p.m.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., LA
Tickets: $51, $34, $26. (323) 850-2000
Los Angeles Philharmonic presents Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma
The Los Angeles Philharmonic presents pianist Emanuel Ax with Yo-Yo Ma on Wednesday at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The evening’s concert will include Schumann’s “Adagio and Allegro,” “Five Pieces in Folk Style,” and “Fantasiestücke,” Op.73. Peter Lieberson’s “Remembering Schumann” and Chopin’s “Polonaise Brillante” and Sonata in G Minor are also on the program.
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., LA
Tickets: Call (323) 850-2000 for availability.