Los Angeles has a small (compared to New York, Chicago and London) classical music scene, but it's vibrant, eclectic and often on the cutting-edge, focusing on new composers and the avant-garde. I dig it, and there's SO MUCH going on this weekend, I just had to share. Everything from an opera by a 12th century feminist to an opera with a 60s cult film as its backdrop.
Er...there's a lot between those two operas, so take a look.
Cantoris Los Angeles presents Ordo Virtutum, by the Benedictine nun, mystic, writer and composer Hildegard von Bingen. The play will be accompanied by an ensemble of medieval instruments. If you're looking for an introduction to opera, this may be it, as it's only a little over an hour.
Friday and Saturday, April 25th-26th, 7:30 p.m., at the ProCathedral of St. John on West Adams Boulevard. Get all the details here.
Nun, writer, composer and all-around badass Hildegard von Bingen
On the other side of town, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in the Palisades presents Violin Fest, celebrating four centuries of violin music and featuring Salastina Music Society co-directors Maia Jasper and Kevin Kumar. For details and tickets, go here.
Salastina's Maia Jasper and Kevin Kumar
I've blogged frequently about the Jacaranda Music Series, so you know I love it. This season's finale features none other than the magnificent Lyris Quartet performing quartets by my favorite composer Sofia Gubaidulina--plus works by Schnittke, Pärt and Prokofiev.
And if that wasn't enough, the Lyris also kicks off the premiere concert of the new Contemporary Performance Collective. Tune In features the works of many Los Angeles composers performed by local musicians. I am VERY excited about this. Sunday, April 26th, 8pm at the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Silverlake. More details and ticket information here.
Classical musicians are remarkably photogenic, no?
Sunday also marks a new Classical Music in Historic Sites concert from the Da Camera Society. The Italian Saxophone Quartet will perform pieces by Morricone, Piazzolla and Gershwin at the stunning Bradbury Building in DTLA. More info and tickets here.
The Italian Saxophone Quartet plays Sunday
This is the one I'm all over--the American Cinematheque and Los Angeles Opera have joined forces in an opera/film mash-up. Hercules vs. The Vampires, an early '60s Mario Brava cult classic, inspires the new work by L.A. composer Patrick Morganelli.
Again--this is your chance to see an opera that isn't 18 hours long with multiple intermissions, and bonus: the tickets are very reasonable, so you can sit down front! That's what I'll be doing on Sunday.
Sliding into next week, LACMA hosts Celebrating Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 29th featuring LA Phil concertmaster Martin Chalifour, along with members of the Angel City Chorale and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, performing works by Schoenberg, Stravinsky and more. Info and tickets here.
I said it before, I'll say it again: classical musicians are TRÉS photogenic.
Come back tomorrow, where I'll continue with weekend, part ii (the non-classical music edition--WHAT!).
Love, Lexa.
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