Alexander Romanovsky will perform Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Pacific Symphony on Feb. 1-4, in his California debut. Here he is playing Chopin’s Etude in G-flat, Op. 10, No. 5, taken from his newest album for Decca.
Video: Xenakis, with audience
Would you buy a ticket to this? The piece is “Terretektorh” for 88 musicians (1966) by the Greek avant-garde composer Iannis Xenakis (1922-2001). The orchestra is supposed to “scatter” itself among the public during a performance, as you see is
Playlist: Some British symphonic music
It was gratifying last week to see the audience’s response to Pacific Symphony’s first performances of Elgar’s Symphony No. 1 (and how well the orchestra played it, under the baton of guest conductor Michael Francis). We don’t get much British
Video: Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2
https://youtu.be/Il95HXvCdH4 Alexander Romanovsky will perform this piece with Pacific Symphony on Feb. 1-4. Meanwhile, you can get it in your ears by listening to Yuja Wang play it with the Berlin Philharmonic, Paavo Jarvi conducting. It’s considered one of the
Video: Elgar conducts Elgar
As Michael Francis conducts Pacific Symphony in its first performances of Elgar’s Symphony No. 1 this weekend, I thought it would be a good time to share this historical film of Elgar himself conducting the “Pomp and Circumstance” March No.
Video: Monteux conducts ‘Le sacre du printemps’
I was listening to this recording again the other night for the first time in a while and was struck by not only how good the performance was but also by how it must be quite close to how this
Pacific Overtures: January
The first newsletter of the new year has arrived … Pacific Overtures. January, 2018.
January vlog update
Here’s my colleague’s January update on Pacific Symphony’s concerts, in video form.
Audio: A Christmas symphony
I give you herewith “Santa Claus (Christmas Symphony)” by William Henry Fry, an American composer and critic who lived from 1813-1864. He was a most interesting musician and writer, and is often credited as the first native-born American to write
Video: Philip Glass: Etude No. 6
Pianist Víkingur Ólafsfon’s new recording of music by Philip Glass is being mentioned in year-end best of lists. This is music that’s great to watch being performed as well as hear.