By ROBERT D. THOMAS
Music Critic, Southern California News Group
This column was first published in print editions of the Southern California News Group papers.
This coming week is Holy Week in the Christian calendar and next Friday is both Good Friday for Christians and Passover for Jews. It’s also a time for music.
Soprano Kathleen Battle appears March 29 at The Soraya (aka Valley Performing Arts Center) on the Cal State Northridge campus with what has become one of her signature recitals: “Underground Railroad — A Spiritual Journey.” Pianist Joel Martin will accompany the concert, which will also feature the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers.
The program, which will be narrated by actress Angela Basset, offers a chance to hear one of the world’s great sopranos singing spirituals and other songs inspired by the journey to freedom along the Underground Railroad, the 19th-century network of safe houses that allowed African-Americans to escape from slavery.
This is a must-see recital. Information: www.valleyperformingartscenter.org
Michael Tilson Thomas returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall on March 27 when he leads his San Francisco Symphony in a program that bracket’s Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 and Berg’s Violin Concerto, with Gil Shaham as soloist in the concerto.
Thomas has announced his retirement from the SFS music director post at the conclusion of the 2019-2020 season, which will be his 25th. From 1981-1985 he was the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s principal guest conductor but was bypassed for music director in favor of Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Information: www.laphil.com
Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel returns to the LAPO podium on April 5, 6, 7 and 8 for performances of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erd, one of the last symphonic works that Mahler composed.
The Phil’s artist-collaborator, Yuval Sharon, will stage the work in conjunction with the Chilean theatre company Teatrocinema (Sunday’s performance is just the music). The vocal soloists will be tenor Russell Thomas and mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford.
Information: www.laphil.com
The Angeles Chorale’s second concert of its 43rd season, “Music for the Child in All of Us,” will take place on April 7 at the First United Methodist Church of Pasadena and April 8 at Northridge United Methodist Church.
Artistic Director John Sutton will lead his ensemble and promises “an interactive, fun and fresh musical experience.” David Prather will host and the program will feature choreography by ArtistsPlus Productions.
Information: www.angeleschorale.org
Chad Smith, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s chief operating officer, has been tapped to become music director of the Ojai Music Festival beginning with the 2020 season. He replaces Thomas W. Morris, who is retiring after a 16-year tenure at the adventurous, four-day festival in the bucolic Santa Barbara County town.
Smith’s initial three-year contract will coincide with the festival’s 75th anniversary. He will join Matthias Pintscher, who was previously named Ojai’s music director in 2020 and Mitsuko Uchida, who will assume the same post in 2021. Smith is planning on retaining his LAPO duties in addition to taking on the Ojai responsibilities.
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Robert D. Thomas is a freelance music writer. Send him an email at [email protected]. More of his reviews can be found HERE.
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(c) Copyright 2018, Robert D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Portions may be quoted with attribution.
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