In Classical Focus, Theodore Bell selects highlights from Jim Eninger’s Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter. Here are his top picks:
Brilliant stars shine on the singing stages of the City of Angels this season: soprano Renée Fleming will sing and mingle at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Saturday; soprano Laura Claycomb joins the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra with Jeffrey Kahane conducting on Sunday; and hear the noted period ensemble Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle Québec at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Tuesday.
Renée Fleming
LA Opera presents soprano Renée Fleming with pianist Gerald Martin Moore Saturday evening at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Meet Fleming afterward when she will autograph her new CD, “Verismo.” The program will include songs by Richard Strauss and Olivier Messiaen, as well as Henri Dutilleux’s song cycle “Le temps l’horloge,” that was composed specifically for Fleming. She will also sing selections from Ruggero Leoncavallo’s “La Bohème” and “Zazà,” Umberto Giordano’s “Siberia,” and Ricardo Zandonai’s “Conchita.” Don’t miss the pre-concert lecture at 6:30 with Duff Murphy.
Saturday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., LA
Tickets: $75, $60, $45, $30, $25.
Laura Claycomb
Laura Claycomb / photo by Gaetan Caputo
Texas-born soprano superstar Laura Claycomb joins the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra with Jeffrey Kahane to present “Bel Canto.” The program includes the West Coast premiere of LACO composer-in-residence Derek Bermel’s “A Shout, a Whisper, and a Trace,” as well as Copland’s “Eight Poems of Emily Dickinson” and selections by Mozart and Richard Strauss. There will be a pre-concert lecture at 6.
Sunday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.
Royce Hall at UCLA
Tickets: $100, $85, $50, $42, $20 (senior and student discounts). Call (213) 622-7001, ext. 215.
La Chapelle Québec
Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle Québec will give a complete period-instrument performance of Handel’s “Messiah.” Fabulous countertenor David Daniels returns to L.A. for the performance. His last concert at Disney Hall was wonderful; you will appreciate his one-of-a-kind voice and persona. I reviewed his performance with Harry Bicket and the English Concert last spring and realized that my memories of him are still as fresh as the day I originally heard him. He is that good. Bernard Labadie conducts, and Rosemary Joshua (soprano), Jan Kabow (tenor), and Joshua Hopkins (bass-baritone) complete the cast.
Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 8 p.m.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., LA
Tickets: $95, $90, $75, $71, $46, $37. Call (323) 850-2000.