Posts by Ken Herman
A Generous Offering of Compositions by Nicolas Reveles
If you should ask me what sort of musician Nicolas Reveles is, you would be wise to sit down, because the answer is neither short nor simple. I have encountered him as a church organist and as a respected university music faculty member. His persuasive solo piano recitals have always left me wanting to hear…
Read MoreChristopher Dragon Leads Stirring All-Tchaikovsky Concert to Cap Summer Series on San Diego Bay
On Friday, August 30, Australian guest conductor Christopher Dragon adeptly refurbished the San Diego Symphony’s familiar but fading end-of-summer ritual at their outdoor site on San Diego Bay, the all-Tchaikovsky grand finale.
Read MoreConductor Nicholas McGegan Leads a Triumphal Orchestral Finale to La Jolla SummerFest 2019
Following longstanding tradition, the final La Jolla SummerFest program is a chamber orchestra concert. Festival Music Director Inon Barnatan not only upheld the tradition but—as is his wont—improved upon it. Guest Conductor Nicholas McGegan led an impressive list of soloists with this exceptional chamber ensemble Friday, August 23, at The Conrad.
Read MoreMark Morris Dance Group Soars at SummerFest 2019
Eye, ear, and imagination have never been so simultaneously deluged in SummerFest’s 33 years of programming as they were Wednesday, August 21, with the Mark Morris Dance Group taking center stage at The Conrad.
Read MoreTimo Andres’ Impressive Piano Trio at La Jolla SummerFest
Composer David Lang returned to the La Jolla SummerFest stage Sunday, August 18, to introduce his second installment of fresh contemporary music for this year’s festival. Featured were composers Ted Hearne, Nina Young, Timo Andres, and Julia Wolfe.
Read MoreMusic Performance and the Visual Arts Collide Creatively at SummerFest
Thursday’s SummerFest 2019 theme at The Conrad-–Music at an Exhibition—explored the connection between the visual arts and music performance. Zach Smithey’s bold brushstrokes moved to the music of Biber, Ravel, and J. S. Bach in one hall, while in the main concert hall Inon Barnatan gave a thrilling performance of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”
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