Recommended recordings of the pieces performed by the Pacific Symphony on its programs in September. Shostakovich: Festive Overture. Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi, conductor. Chandos. Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1. Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Krill Kondrashin, conductor. Martha Argerich, piano.
Listen to this: ‘Boléro’
First in a series. Videographer: Paul Harkins.
Single tickets on sale, suggestions made
Tickets to individual concerts in Pacific Symphony’s 2018-2019 season go on sale today. This next season marks the orchestra’s 40th anniversary. The offer includes classical concerts, pops concerts, and special events.* Go to pacificsymphony.org or call (714) 755-5799. Go to
Anne Akiko Meyers brings old (expensive) violin and modern attitude to Pacific Symphony
By TIMOTHY MANGAN Anne Akiko Meyers is bringing the world’s most expensive violin to town to play with Pacific Symphony this week. It has been loaned to her for life by the owner, who bought it in late 2012 for
The bass drum in Wuxi Grand Theatre
In the video below, you’ll get just an inkling of what the bass drum sounded like — the fidelity isn’t great — when Carl St.Clair and Pacific Symphony played “Daphnis and Chloe” in Wuxi Grand Theatre in China recently. I
Orchestration by Ravel
I’ve always loved the way this piece — the “Habanera” from “Rhapsodie espagnole” — is orchestrated, the whole thing, but particularly the aromatic chord change from minor to major starting at the one minute mark in this recording and repeated
Mussorgsky: ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ sans Ravel
A good way to prepare for this week’s performances by Carl St.Clair and Pacific Symphony of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” in Ravel’s incomparable orchestration is to hear the piece in its original version, for solo piano. Here’s Alice Sara
‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ (film)
Here’s a short preview of a film created by students from the USC School of Cinematic Arts that will accompany Pacific Symphony’s performances of “Pictures at an Exhibition” this month. Performances are March 15-18.
Pacific Symphony 40th season announcement
By TIMOTHY MANGAN Music director Carl St.Clair and President John Forsyte unveiled plans today for Pacific Symphony’s 40th anniversary classical season in 2018-19. The schedule includes eight subscription programs (in multiple performances) conducted by St.Clair, who celebrates his 29th season
Listen to this: ‘Bolero’
In our ongoing efforts aimed at improving the listening skills of people new to classical music, we come to instrumentation. It is helpful in learning to understand a particular piece to be able to identify, just with your ears, which