Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), in collaboration with Four Larks, presents SESSION, an innovative performance experience curated by composer and LACO Artist Educator Derrick Spiva Jr and designed to explore classical music’s cutting-edge sounds and challenge traditional concert-going expectations, on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.), at Hauser & Wirth in Downtown LA’s Arts District.
The evening of music, linked by sonic metaphors, composed by an array of national and international composers, and performed by LACO musicians and others, also offers a “hang” with the artists and a drink ticket for ticketholders, plus food available for purchase. The program features a world premiere by Spiva, a rising African-American composer long associated with LACO. Titled The Body Overcome, it is a peaceful meditation for string quartet, wind quartet, percussion, voice and oud (a pear shaped Middle Eastern lute with West African, Indian and Eastern European influences).
Also on the program are Conor Brown’s Hirvi (“The Elk”), a jubilant work for double quintet and voice influenced by Norwegian and Eastern European music traditions; Reena Esmail’s String Quartet (Ragamala), which blends Indian and Western classical music styles; selections from Salina Fisher’s abstract Tōrino, a string quartet inspired by Maori pūtōrino (traditional flute of New Zealand); and movements from Juan Pablo Contreras’ celebratory Angel Mestizo for harp, double quintet and percussion. Acclaimed Hindustani vocalist Saili Oak demonstrates her tremendous versatility, performing in Hindustani classical style on Spiva’s and Esmail’s works and in Finnish on Brown’s.
LOCATION: Hauser & Wirth, 901 E. 3rd St., LA 90013
PROGRAM:
CONOR BROWN Hirvi (The Elk)
SALINA FISHER Tōrino
RENNA ESMAIL selections from String Quartet (Ragamala)
JUAN PABLO CONTRERAS selections from Angel Mestizo
DERRICK SPIVA JR The Body Overcome (world premiere)
TICKETS: Tickets are $35 (includes drink ticket).
(213) 622-7001 ext. 1
www.laco.org