Augustin Hadelich, who appears in our Bernstein concert next season, plays one of the most charming Paganini caprices, No. 9.
April vlog update
Here’s my colleague, public relations and social media guru, talking about upcoming concerts at the Symphony in this month’s video log.
Audio: Ravi Shankar
People of a certain age, including your scribe, remember when virtuoso sitarist Ravi Shankar became famous in the 1960s, celebrated especially among the young. It seemed to me that most households had, along with the records of Herb Alpert, some
Expanding your repertoire: ‘Sensemaya’ by Revueltas
Silvestre Revueltas (1899-1940) was one of the most remarkable Mexican composers of the 20th century. His music combines modernist, folkloric and primitivist elements and is notable for its vitality and vibrancy. His most famous work is “Sensemayá,” inspired by a
A Philip Glass playlist
Orchestration by Ravel
I’ve always loved the way this piece — the “Habanera” from “Rhapsodie espagnole” — is orchestrated, the whole thing, but particularly the aromatic chord change from minor to major starting at the one minute mark in this recording and repeated
Mussorgsky: ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ sans Ravel
A good way to prepare for this week’s performances by Carl St.Clair and Pacific Symphony of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” in Ravel’s incomparable orchestration is to hear the piece in its original version, for solo piano. Here’s Alice Sara
Neglected symphony: Wilhelm Peterson-Berger Symphony No. 5
I hadn’t even heard of this composer before a conductor friend suggested I listen to this piece, the Symphony No. 5 by Wilhelm Peterson-Berger (1867-1942). Peterson-Berger was a Swedish composer and music critic who was an anti-modernist. The Symphony No.
Mussorgsky: ‘Night on Bald Mountain,’ original version
Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky was born on this date (Old Style) in 1839. Here’s the seldom-heard original version of his “Night on Bald Mountain.” The work is most familiar in a rather radical arrangement made by Rimsky-Korsakov. In many ways,
Shapero: ‘Nine-Minute Overture’ (Previn, L.A. Philharmonic)
Here’s a boisterous American work not often encountered: the “Nine-Minute Overture” (1940) by Harold Shapero (1920-2013). Andre Previn conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic.