MUSIC REVIEWS
American Music: to China with Love
The San Diego Symphony’s Jacobs Masterworks concert of Oct. 11, 2013, offered works by American composers Leonard Bernstein, John Harbison, and George Gershwin, pieces that will complement the Samuel Barber Violin Concerto with soloist Augustin Hadelich on the orchestra’s upcoming trip to China.
Read MoreA Winning Premiere by David Bruce, Sumptuous Barber and Striking Prokofiev Open a New Season
Looking ahead to the San Diego Symphony’s much heralded tour to New York City and China, Music Director Jahja Ling opened the 2013-14 season with a sumptuous performance of Samuel Barber’s much-loved Violin Concerto, Sergei Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony, and the premiere of a commissioned work by David Bruce, “Night Parade.”
Read MoreA Lavish Banquet of Bach and Handel from BachCollegium San Diego
Ruben Valenzuela and his plucky BachCollegium San Diego opened their fall music season Friday (Sept. 27) at St. James-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in La Jolla with an impassioned concert of choral works by J. S. Bach and G. F. Handel. Choosing the year 1707 as his focal point, Valenzuela offered two impressive works composed in that year by the young Handel and Bach for their respective patrons.
Read MoreThe Calder Quartet, Peter Sprague and Caroline Shaw Headline the Carlsbad Music Festival
Over the last 10 seasons, the Carlsbad Music Festival has become the bright beacon of exciting contemporary music in San Diego County. In a coastal town that was once visited only to see fields of poinsettias in bloom, the Carlsbad Music Festival sports a cadre of performers that should make more established festivals green with envy.
Read MoreSolo Cello with Sonic Assists from Computer and Freeway
When a cellist wanted to present a solo program, there was a time when he had but two choices: either learn the fiendishly difficult J.S. Bach Suites for Unaccompanied Cello or hire an accompanist. In this computer age, all virtuoso cellist Eric Byers needed on Friday (Sept. 13) at Bread & Salt in Barrio Logan was his computer and an improvised sound system to make his musical compositions blossom.
Read MoreRaymond Leppard and Festival Orchestra Bring SummerFest to a Genial Close
SummerFest Music Director Cho-Liang Lin thought he had a coup signing up Los Angeles Opera’s Music Director James Conlon to conduct the 2013 SummerFest finale concert, that is until maestro Conlon bowed out for some emergency surgery. Fortunately, the estimable British conductor Raymond Leppard stepped in on short notice to lead the chamber orchestra in a glowing program of Mozart and Benjamin Britten.
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