Five-Spot: What caught my eye on January 19, 2012

By Robert D. Thomas
Music Critic
Pasadena Star-News/San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Whittier Daily News
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Each Thursday morning, I list five events (six this week — there could have been others) that pique my interest, including — ideally — at least one with free admission (or, at a minimum, inexpensive tickets) . Here’s today’s grouping:
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• Tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at 8 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles Philharmonic: Gustavo Dudamel conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 and Adagio from Symphony No. 10
The L.A. Phil’s “Mahler Project” kicks into high gear this weekend beginning with these two works. Symphony No. 1 was the first major piece that Dudamel conducted (at age 16). The Adagio from Symphony No. 10 is one of two Mahler symphonies for which these will be inaugural Dudamel traversals. A couple of things to note:
• Friday night is a “Casual Friday” concert, so only the first symphony will be performed. If the Phil follows its normal “CF” format, a musician will give a brief talk before the performance and a Q&A will follow; Dudamel customarily appears at the Q&A when he conducts, but considering his time commitment to the three-week long survey, no promises. Then there’s a reception in the downstairs where audience members can meet with the musicians.
• Gilbert Kaplan is giving the preconcert lecture, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the main hall. If you’ve never heard of Kaplan, a writeup is HERE. Although he’s more known for his advocacy of Symphony No. 2, I’m looking forward to hearing his insights on the first and 10th symphonies, as well.

Concert information: www.laphil.com

• Tomorrow and Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Zipper Hall (The Colburn School, downtown Los Angeles)
James Conlon conducts “forgotten’ operas
For several years, James Conlon, music director of Los Angeles Opera, had led “Recovered Voices,” a series of operas written by composers whose lives and music were suppressed by the Nazi regime. He has a similar survey, “Breaking the Silence,” at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival (one of that city’s major summer music festivals).

This weekend, Conlon revives this concept locally when he conducts The Colburn Orchestra and singers from the Domingo-Thornton Young Artists in a double-bill: Viktor Ulman’s The Emperor of Atlantis (which has was conducted at LAO) and Ernst Krenek’s The Secret Kingdom, which is receiving its West Coast debut. Conlon will deliver a 45-minute lecture prior to each concert.

Because Zipper Hall has a very small seating capacity, tickets are extremely limited. Information: 213/621-1050; www.thecolburnschool.edu

• Saturday at 8 p.m. at Alex Theatre, Glendale
Sunday at 7 p.m. at Royce Hall, UCLA
Andrew Shulman conducts LACO; Nigel Armstrong is soloist
Andrew Shulman, principal cellist of both the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Pasadena Symphony, makes his Los Angeles conducting debut leading a program of Mozart’s Symphony No. 29 and Violin Concerto No. 3 and Walton’s Sonata for Strings. Nigel Armstrong, a former student at The Colburn School who captured fourth place in last summer’s Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition, will be the concerto soloist. My story on Shulman is HERE — it includes links to my stories on Armstrong’s strong showing last summer. Information: www.laco.org

• Saturday at 8 p.m. at Royce Hall, UCLA
Kathleen Battle sings spirituals
The former opera diva now focuses exclusively on recitals and concerts and she appears on the “UCLA Live” series with something that ought to be right in her wheelhouse: Underground Railroad: An Evening of Spirituals. Pianist Cyrus Chestnut and the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers are part of the show. Information: www.uclalive.org

• Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony
• Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Mahler’s Symphony No. 3
The Simón Bolivár Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela moves into Walt Disney Concert Hall for its part in the L.A. Phil’s “Mahler Project.” On Sunday, Gustavo Dudamel leads the SBSOV, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and soloists Miah Persson, soprano, and Christianne Stotijn, mezzo-soprano in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 (Resurrection). Dudamel comes back Tuesday night to lead Symphony No. 3, featuring the SBSOV, women of the L.A. Master Chorale, L.A. Children’s Chorus, and Stotijn

Two things to note:
• Gilbert Kaplan’s preconcert lecture Sunday begins at 6 p.m. in the main auditorium. On Tuesday, somewhat controversial author and commentator Norman Lebrecht lectures at 7 p.m. in BP Hall.
• Both works are long (90-100 minutes each) and will be presented without intermission.

Information:QQ Symphony No. 2: www.laphil.com
Symphony No. 3: www.laphil.com

And the weekend’s “free admission” program …

• Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Pasadena Presbyterian Church
Frances Nobert’s 75th Birthday Concert
A fixture on the Southland organ scene for decades, Nobert appears at PPC with a concert that includes her on the organ and as part of the Haarlem Keyboard Duo (Nobert on piano and Steve Gentile on organ). After intermission, Nobert will lead an alumni choir from Grant High School, where she taught for many years. There’s even an audience-participation part. Information: www.ppc.net
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(c) Copyright 2012, Robert D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Portions may be quoted with attribution.