By Robert D. Thomas
Music Critic
Pasadena Star-News/San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Whittier Daily News
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Each Thursday, I list five events 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 at 8 p.m., Tomorrow at 11 a.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles Philharmonic; Charles Dutoit, conductor
We’ll soon find out whether the Los Angeles Philharmonic has jet lag after returning from Caracas following a very hectic week playing in the Venezuelan portion of “The Mahler Project.” The Phil returns to be led by a familiar guest conductor, Charles Duoit (currently finishing up his tenure as chief conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra and for 25 years music director of the Montreal Symphony). This weekend’s program is mostly familiar Dutoit fare: Stravinsky’s Symphony of Wind Instruments, Debussy’s La Mer, and a suite from Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet. Information: www.laphil.com
• Tonight at 8 p.m. at Valley Performing Arts Center (Cal State Northridge)
Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra; Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Artistic Director Jacek Kaspszyk leads The National Forum of Music Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra (to give the ensemble its formal name) at VPAC on tour with a program that includes Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7 and Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, with Garrick Ohlsson as soloist. Information: www.valleyperformingartscenter.org
• Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Los Angeles Opera: Albert Herring
Los Angeles Opera brings this “coming of age” work by Benjamin Britten, using a production from Santa Fe Opera that will be conducted by James Conlon, who will also deliver a lecture one hour before each performance. Tenor Alex Shrader makes his Los Angeles debut in the title role. Brian in “Out West Arts” has one of his familiar “10 Questions” profile with Shrader HERE. David Mermelstein previews the opera in his Los Angeles Times article HERE. Information: www.losangelesopera.com
• Saturday at 8 p.m. at Ambassador Auditorium
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Jeffrey Kahane, conductor
For the past several years in what he calls the “Discover Series,” Music Director Jeffrey Kahane has picked a single piece to first discuss and then perform. The choice Saturday night is one of the landmarks of choral repertoire: Bach’s Magnificat, with a text drawn from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke.
Joining Kahane and LACO are The University of Southern California Thornton Chamber Singers, directed by Jo-Michael Scheibe; and five soloists: Charlotte Dobbs, soprano, Zanaida Robles, soprano, Janelle DeStefano, mezzo soprano, Ben Bliss, tenor, and Daniel Armstrong, baritone.
Information: www.laco.org
Two of the other offerings are opera holdovers:
• San Diego Opera’s production of Moby-Dick wraps up its run on Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the San Diego Civic Theatre. My review is HERE. Information: www.sdopera.com
• LA Opera’s production of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra plays Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. My review is HERE. Information: www.laopera.com
Also, the “encore performance” of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Mahler 8 concert in Caracas earlier this month will be shown Wednesday at 7 p.m. (local time) in four Los Angeles-area theaters along with a couple in Orange County. Information: www.laphil.com
And the weekend’s “free admission” program …
• Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Pasadena Presbyterian Church
Vor Frue Kirkes Drenge-Mandskor and Vanse Guttekor-Deo Gloria
Two internationally renowned boys’ choirs appear as part of a Southland tour with a selection of Norwegian, Danish and American music concluding with Jonah — a Liturgical Drama. Information: www.ppc.net
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(c) Copyright 2012, Robert D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Portions may be quoted with attribution.
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