So… we had a little too much Mahler? Or maybe the Mahler Dude leaving town for Caracas has you down? I say that jokingly, of course, but what to do now? Well, we suggest that you try to hear Joshua Bell in one of his performances this week with the Laguna Beach Music Festival or the Colburn Celebrity Series downtown. You may also enjoy one of these wonderful chamber groups: the Salastina Chamber Music, the Brentano String Quartet, or Ceora Winds. Plus, Leif Ove Andsnes is in town. And don’t pass up some great FREE music by top-tier musicians performing at the Enlightenment Chamber Series in Pasadena.
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LAGUNA BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL
The 10th ANNUAL LAGUNA BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL presents a week of concerts, master classes, and events, Monday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 12, and many are free. The events are sponsored by Laguna Beach Live! and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, and there is something for everyone, whether a casual listener or an aficionado.
Guest artists include EDGAR MEYER double bass, the CALDER QUARTET, JOSHUA BELL violin, and the CALIDORE QUARTET.
The schedule posted here is quoted from the Festival Website:
Mon Feb 6 | 6:30pm | Hotel Laguna. OPENING NIGHT SALON. Edgar Meyer, the Calder Quartet, and Festival emerging artists, plus wine and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets: $60.
Wed Feb 8 | 7pm | Private Home. PRIVATE SALON WITH JOSHUA BELL. A very special salon concert in an elegant private home, followed by a buffet supper. To inquire about invitations, please email info@LagunaBeachMusicFestival.com.
Thu Feb 9 | 8pm | Laguna Playhouse. THE GENIUS OF EDGAR MEYER. Explore the lush, warm sound of the double bass. Tickets: $40/$35. VIP package: $100 (includes reserved parking and complimentary champagne at intermission; call 949-553-2422 to purchase).
Fri Feb 10 | 5pm | Claes’ Ovation, Hotel Laguna. FESTIVAL FEAST. Dinner at Claes’ Ovation, followed by Joshua Bell Recital at Laguna Playhouse and a post-concert reception on stage at the Playhouse. Festival Feast ticket includes dinner, concert, reception and shuttle transportation between the Playhouse and Hotel Laguna. .Tickets: $200.
Fri Feb 10 | 8pm | Laguna Playhouse. JOSHUA BELL RECITAL. A recital of gems from the classical repertoire. Tickets: $40/$35. VIP package: $100 (includes reserved parking and complimentary champagne at intermission; call 949-553-2422 to purchase).
Sat Feb 11 | 8pm | Laguna Playhouse. JOSHUA BELL, EDGAR MEYER & CALDER QUARTET. Bassist Edgar Meyer and the Calder Quartet join Joshua Bell for an evening of the music that has made Joshua Bell a household name. Tickets: $40/$35. VIP package: $100 (includes reserved parking and complimentary champagne at intermission; call 949-553-2422 to purchase).
Sun Feb 12 | 3pm | Laguna Playhouse. TENTH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT. Festival alumni Calder Quartet and Edgar Meyer perform with emerging artists in an eclectic afternoon celebrating the Festival’s tenth anniversary. Tickets: $40/$35. VIP package: $100 (includes reserved parking and complimentary champagne at intermission; call 949-553-2422 to purchase).
STUDENT RUSH TICKETS: Full-time students with valid ID may purchase $20 student tickets at the door (limit 1 per student), beginning 1 hour before concert time. A minimum of 20 tickets for each Laguna Playhouse concert will be available for Student Rush.
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JOSHUA BELL COLBURN CELEBRITY RECITAL
You can hear Joshua Bell a little closer to home when the Los Angeles Philharmonic Colburn Celebrity Recital Series brings him and pianist SAM HAYWOOD to Walt Disney Concert Hall, Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Program
• Mendelssohn: Violin Sonata in F Major
• Brahms: Violin Sonata No.3 in D Minor, Op.108
• Ravel: Sonata for violin and piano
• Ysaÿe: Violin Sonata in D Minor, Op.27 No.3, “Ballade”
• Gershwin: Three Preludes
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., LA
Tickets: $50 to $110
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LEIF OVE ANDSNES COLBURN CELEBRITY RECITAL
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Colburn Celebrity Recital Series is also bringing acclaimed pianist LEIF OVE ANDSNES to Walt Disney Concert Hall the next night.
Program
• Haydn: Sonata in C Minor, Hob.XVI:20
• Bartók: Suite, Op.14
• Debussy: Images, Book 1
• Chopin: Three Waltzes from Op.70
Ballade No.3 in A-flat Major, Op.47,
Nocturne in B Major, Op.62 No.1
Ballade No.1 in G Minor, Op.23
Wednesday, Feb 8, 8 p.m.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles
Tickets: $55 to $111
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SALASTINA MUSIC SOCIETY
MAIA JASPER and KEVIN KUMAR, co-artistic directors and violinists, with guest artists BORN LAU viola, AMY SUE BARSTON and KAREN OUZOUNIAN cellos.
Program – Masterpiece Discovery
• Schubert: String Quintet in C Major, Op.163
The Salastina Music Society is dedicated to presenting chamber music of broad audience appeal and innovative programming purposefully designed to be slightly shorter than the average classical music concert.
Thursday, Feb. 9, 8 p.m.
Chapel, Mount St. Mary College, 12001 Chalon Rd., Brentwood
Tickets: $20 in advance / $30 at the door / $15 students & children
Free admission for Mount St. Mary’s faculty, staff, and students.
Mingle with the artists at the reception on the grounds immediately after the performance.
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BRENTANO STRING QUARTET
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County Laguna Chamber Music Series brings the BRENTANO STRING QUARTET with MARK STEINBERG and SERENA CANIN violins, MISHA AMORY viola, and NINA LEE cello.
Program
• Busoni: String Quartet No.2
• Beethoven: String Quartet No.13 in B-flat Major, Op.130
Grosse Fuge in B-flat Major, Op.133
Named for Antonie Brentano, Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved,” the BRENTANO STRING QUARTET began in 1992 and currently enjoys the distinction of being Resident String Quartet at Princeton University.
Saturday, Feb.11, 8 p.m.
Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine
Tickets: $45, $40
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ENLIGHTENMENT CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
A free event performed by LA’s finest chamber players with STUART CLARK clarinet, MARINA MANUKIAN and NEIL SAMPLES violins, ANDREW DUCKLES viola, JOHN WALZ cello, SVETLANA TRANSKY piano, GEORGE KOMSKY tenor.
Program
• Tchaikovsky: Meditation, Melodie, Lensky’s Aria from Eugene Onegin
• Mendelssohn: Piano Trio in D Minor, Op.49
• Borodin: Nocturne from String Quartet No.2
• Rachmaninoff: Daisies
• Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K581
Sunday, Feb. 12, 4 p.m.
Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church of Pasadena
301 N. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena
Free admission. Reception following the concert. For information, call
(818) 566-1056 or e-mail info@enlchambermusic.org.
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CEORA WINDS
The Pasadena Conservatory of Music continues the Mansions and Music concert series at the historic Green & Green Blacker House in Pasadena. The members of CEORA WINDS have performed together for 10 years throughout Southern California and the country, and include MICHELLE MATSUMUNE flute, HEATHER MILLETTE clarinet, and CHRISTIN WEBB bassoon.
Program of selections by Vivaldi, Ibert, Shostakovich, Piazzolla, and Pizzi
Sunday, Feb. 12, 4 p.m.
The Blacker House, Pasadena/Glendale
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Tickets: $75. A reception follows the performance. Seating is limited; for reservations and information, call (626) 683-3355.
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~Theodore Bell/Culture Spot LA
Culture Spot LA recommends Jim Eninger’s Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter, an extensive calendar of upcoming music events, large and small, happening all around Los Angeles.