Monthly Archives: May 2007

Some of the liveliest music making has come to my attention this season under the least-promising circumstances: one proud parent or another entreating my presence at some doted-upon offspring’s high school’s annual musical production. Los Angeles being the proverbial talent … Continue reading →

Three diverse concerts in four nights at Disney: proof enough of the splendid variety of music in these parts – even in May, when the season is supposed to be winding down. The difference in the sounds echoing through these … Continue reading →

Getting It Right Of a couple of dozen productions I have attended of the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, the one currently at the Music Center (through this weekend) is by some distance the finest and the most enjoyable. It contains … Continue reading →

The signing of 26-year-old Gustavo Dudamel to take over the Los Angeles Philharmonic podium – snatched from the hot grasp of half a dozen other conductor-hungry American orchestras – has been a coup both musical and political, in many circles … Continue reading →

Daniel Rothmuller has been a member of the L.A. Philharmonic’s cello section since the 1970-’71 season, and associate principal cellist since 1975. That means he has played under Zubin Mehta, Carlo Maria Giulini, André Previn and Esa-Pekka Salonen, and is … Continue reading →

Minimal MerrimentOf all the unreasonable choices for operatic fare to sweep cheery breezes across this season’s repertory, a revival of 2001’s The Merry Widow, in the San Francisco production by Lotfi Mansouri – originally conceived by him in 1981 as … Continue reading →