NewMusicUSA invests in our local musicians

One of the nation’s biggest proponents of new classical music runs many helpful programs to help composers and presenters of new stuff in our field. They have also, however, developed a reputation over the years for being highly biased toward NYC-based recipients. Whether or not that reputation is deserved, it’s nice to have an excuse … Read more

Riot redux: How exciting are YOUR events?

The WQXR blog (one of my favorites) dipped into a question yesterday about the legend of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring debut. If you’ve ever taken a class about 20th century music, you’ve probably heard the tale:  boos screamed, cat-calls shouted, musicians, dancers and concertgoers afraid for their safety… My favorite bit was something about one audience … Read more

The original “fake news” becomes unique opera

Does opera have to be on a stage?  In a hall?  Or, as the iconoclasts at The Industry have proven repeatedly, can it thrive in our urban environment, on the streets and in any space that will open for it? Director Yuval Sharon. working with LA Phil, is resurrecting the classic Orson Welles radio work, War of … Read more

… and a-one, and a-two…

The Industry, an iconoclast opera company based in Los Angeles that is changing the genre, returns this weekend with not only their annual showcase of new operatic bites, but an updated look at Bonnie and Clyde, the progressing work by Andrew McIntosh and Melinda Rice. Friday’s performance of “First Take”, a series of six new … Read more

SoCal’s wave of modern opera is getting attention

As the perfect introduction to one of their end-of-year fundraising blasts, Pacific Opera Project shares an article from LA Weekly that we can all be proud of.  The local press is taking notice of the exciting things happening  in the vocal community across Southern California, and they cite this recent article from the New Yorker‘s Alex … Read more

Right to the edge

New release for The Industry’s recording label They’ve taken the art of opera to heights never before conceived, shaken us up and explored new opera with fearlessness.  Now The Industry is releasing recordings of some of the intriguing works they’ve helped bring to fruition, making them available to a wider audience and saving them for … Read more

A tail’s tale, a flying rodent, and a Requiem smorgasbord

Vocal focus from CCMN* Southern CA Vocal Events Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights Was that a splash?   It has to be one of several new things opening this very spooky weekend: The white whale comes to Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Saturday night, as LA OPERA opens their long-awaited run of Jake Heggie’s Moby-Dick. If … Read more

A diva returns, a new orchestra, and a chance to sing with a living legend

Vocal focus from CCMN* Southern CA Vocal Events Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights One beautiful event after another tells us that it’s fall, the season is in full swing, and there will be no sitting at home with your favorite Netflix binge.  Get yourself to one of these choice musical happenings, or pick one from … Read more

Yuval Sharon shows us the chalk behind ‘Hopscotch’

It’s being hailed as “the asphalt opera“, and is certainly one of the most original theatrical conceptions of our time.  Carefully orchestrated in 24 cars tooling around Los Angeles, plus a central hub where visitors can get the video-driven big picture, Hopscotch is in previews now, and is one of the hottest tickets in town.  … Read more

Programs that bring it all together

Vocal focus from CCMN* Southern CA Vocal Events Lauri D. Goldenhersh’s Weekly Highlights Some music events are unusual not because they’re weird or innovative, but because they’re  carefully curated and full of the presenter’s love of the art form.  Stretch your vocab a bit with one of out-of-the-ordinary events: On Saturday 10/3, the late-afternoon ‘Liederabend’ … Read more

%d bloggers like this: