With the help of the Hamburg Ballet and their venerable US-born choreographer John Neumeier, our own LA Opera opened a run of J.S. Bach’s ‘St. Matthew Passion’ last Saturday, to powerful effect. Background The Bach oratorio is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest masterpieces of Western sacred music, a dramatic Baroque gem that defied … Read more
This annual ritual of fielding one season announcement after another feels different this year, as there are equal parts hopefulness and uncertainty on the agenda. But one thing is clear: opera companies all over the world are aiming to make a splash with their next offerings. LA’s downtown arts scene will be graced with faves, … Read more
After 14 years, this is Grant Gershon’s last season at LA Opera. With Conlon’s contract extended and a new baton-wielder from Columbia taking over as Resident Conductor, there are big changes afoot. No announcement yet as to who will take over as chorusmaster, a role which Mr. Gershon also holds through this 2021-22 season. But … Read more
LA Opera has announced its lineup for next season, and it looks like a significant upgrade from the relatively safe fare they’ve been offering the last couple of years. There are some safe bets, with the requisite hefty dose of artistic director Plácido Domingo in two of the six mainstage productions, as well and the … Read more
Let the season announcements begin! LA Opera is one of the first to ante up with their offerings for the 2016-17 season. The upcoming season constitutes a significant uptick in adventure in some ways, as we’re currently in the middle of a fairly safe, if enjoyable, “greatest hits” run (with the exception of the excellent Moby-Dick, of course). The … Read more
Vocal focus from CCMN* SOUTHERN CA VOCAL EVENTS Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights This week, the Southland offers operatic oddities and big congratulations: TERRY KNOWLES will be feted at the annual gala for the LA MASTER CHORALE this weekend – the luxe event is Sunday night, 3/1, and we at the List offer our kudos … Read more
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is a big place. So big, in fact, that it’s sometimes hard to chase an Internet connection while we’re there. (Most people, luckily, don’t have to worry about this — just the faithful few in the “tweet seats”. And the people running the show, of course.) As connectivity problems at last evening’s … Read more
It sounds like another modernization gimmick: set La Traviata, one of Verdi’s most celebrated and beloved operas, in the 1920s? Pourquoi? But listening to director and production designer Marta Domingo and the cast talk about the show, it’s clear that the period was carefully chosen, with strong reasoning behind both selection and execution. After the … Read more
Vocal focus from CCMN* SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VOCAL EVENTS Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights This week, let’s try a new way of organizing things, starting with the ton of choral music going on all over SoCal. Just pick your favorite era and click away: Baroque Bach rules! Lent is the perfect time to enjoy … Read more
Yesterday was a big day for Los Angeles Opera. With a Dulce Rosa dress rehearsal in Santa Monica and a Tosca dress at the Music Center, the company was plenty busy. Placido Domingo is conducting both productions, and several of the chorus members are in both, as well. As luck would have it, we were … Read more
