Five-Spot: What caught my eye on February 2, 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 that pique my interest, including (ideally) at least one (two today) with free admission (or, at a minimum, inexpensive tickets). Here’s today’s grouping:
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• Tonight and Tomorrow at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles Philharmonic: Gustavo Dudamel conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 9
The L.A. Phil’s “Mahler Project” winds up this weekend with these three concerts and Saturday’s performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 at the Shrine Auditorium. Information: www.laphil.com

• Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Shrine Auditorium
Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand”
Gustavo Dudamel conducts 99 instrumentalists from the Simón Bolivár Symphony Orchestra and 91 from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, eight soloists and more than 800 choristers in this performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 that will live up to its nickname. The concert has been announced as a sellout for some time; check the Phil’s box office (323/850-2000) for updates. Information: www.laphil.com

• Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Ambassador Auditorium
The Colburn Orchestra; Yehuda Gilad, conductor
The orchestra’s music director leads a program that concludes with Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7. Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke will be the soloist in “Am I In Your Light” from John Adams’ opera Dr. Atomic and Mahler’s Rückert lieder. Information: www.colburnschool.edu

And the weekend’s “free admission” programs …

• Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Pasadena Presbyterian Church
John Weaver Hymn Festival
For 35 years, John Weaver was organist/music director at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church and also headed the organ departments at the Curtis Institute and Juilliard School for many years. His program Saturday night will include him playing pieces he’s written based on hymn tunes; the audience and the church’s Kirk Choir will sing the hymns. Information: www.ppc.net

• Sunday at 3 p.m. at Whittier High School
Rio Hondo Symphony; Kimo Furumoto, conductor
In a program entitled (somewhat oddly) “No Strings Attached,” Kimo Furumoto leads the orchestra’s string sections in music by Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, Holst and Tchaikovsky. Information: www.riohondosymphony.org
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(c) Copyright 2012, Robert D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Portions may be quoted with attribution.

Comments

[MarK]

In the top item here, it should say "these THREE concerts".

[Bob Thomas]

Quite correct; thanks. I had originally forgotten the concert tonight and when I changed that I forgot the other part of it.