The current strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA are hitting tens of thousands of Southern California families HARD. Whatever you think about organized labor, these strikes are important, as they fight against precedent-setting moves by the studios that affect not just your favorite celebrities, but also the many workers who make content … Read more
Have you ever had one of those weeks with things are coming at you so fast that it makes your head spin? Finding that in the summer has been a surprise, so I’m getting this issue out a little late. But as you can see, it’s pretty quiet on the vocal front, and I hope … Read more
We speak of summer in the arts world as if it’s a period of hiatus, re-energizing, and downcycling. While all of that may be true in a sense, it’s also a time of ingenuity, rebirth and sometimes hectic scrambling to get ready for the next round. You may be part of an intensive training program. … Read more
The arts season isn’t just about growth. It’s when we show off our very best, when organizations are looking ahead and culminating at the same time. The surge of activity, before the summer doldrums, can leave performers and audiences on a high, and we ride that momentum through the hotter months. And all of that … Read more
We’re starting the thick of graduation and finale season: the next few weeks will hold arts orgs’ biggest events to wrap up seasons, as well as all kinds of activities that bridge the transition between spring and summer… and for many, new lives. This means plenty of choral music, especially programs with a mix of … Read more
This issue doesn’t quite reach to St. Patrick’s Day, but somehow it feels bigger this year. Perhaps we all need some extra luck. Maybe it’s how the rain is turning Southern California lush and snowy and green all over. It could be the persistence of green treats all around us. But whatever your Leprechaun-like totem … Read more
It’s not every seven days that we see a world premiere after more than a century and a half; a dance-opera themed around a spiritual equine; separate performances of ancient masterworks by des Prez and Monteverdi; fascinating learning opportunities; AND a half-century birthday concert for Thomas Adès, one of the most gifted creators of his … Read more
“When King said, ‘We must live together as brothers,’ people didn’t hear it. Now they damn well hear it.” — Dave Brubeck A concert at UCLA’s Royce Hall (2/26) will be reprised at Holman United Methodist Church (a historically Black church in LA) on 2/28 with a daylong conference at UCLA in between (2/27). Over these three days, … Read more
Sorry, Josquin — we just had to, as it’s Presidents’ Day weekend! While this holiday isn’t loaded with laughs so much as patriotism, playing hooky and some really terrific music, I hope you all enjoy it and offer a toast to at least two of our former leaders. (I’ve often wondered how they’d feel about … Read more
“Everybody is always in the middle of their own opera.” — Greta Gerwig This week, the calendar is all about opera: LA Opera is busy launching their run of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and the buzz is tremendous. Rumors abound of fantastic singing, and those are our favorite kind of rumors… You can learn more about that … Read more
