Postcard from Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a gargantuan, outspoken, bizarre, insistent and free-spirited series of cities where the sun shines all year round and Europe and its traditions can feel like a world away. But the city responsible for most of the world's movies is also a place with a long, proud and forward looking classical music tradition. Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Korngold and Klemperer emigrated here while John Cage, Michael Tilson Thomas, Thomas Newman and Leonard Slatkin are all native Angelinos.
Read more…- Herrmann • North by Northwest (1959): Overture • OvertureNorth by Northwest (1959): Overture
OvertureEsa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles Philharmonic℗ 1996 - Stravinsky • Symphony in Three Movements • I. (Allegro)Symphony in Three Movements
I. (Allegro)Elaine Donohoe (Piano), Robert Johnston (Harp), Sir Simon RattleRemastered
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra℗ 1988 - Previn • Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (2001) “Anne-Sophie” • I. ModeratoConcerto for Violin and Orchestra (2001)
I. ModeratoAnne-Sophie Mutter (Violin), André Previn
Boston Symphony Orchestra℗ 2003 - Salonen • LA Variations for Orchestra (1996)LA Variations for Orchestra (1996)Esa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles Philharmonic℗ 2001
- Stravinsky • The Rake's Progress: 'No Word from Tom' (Anne, Act I) (1951) • No Word from TomThe Rake's Progress: 'No Word from Tom' (Anne, Act I) (1951)
No Word from TomDiana Damrau (Soprano), Dan Ettinger
Münchner Rundfunkorchester℗ 2009 - Newman • Angels in America (Arr. for Trumpet and Orchestra)Angels in America (Arr. for Trumpet and Orchestra)Håkan Hardenberger (Trumpet), Kenneth Sillito
Academy of St Martin in the Fields2011, London, St. John's, Smith Square - Schoenberg • Concerto for Piano and Orchestra op. 42 (1942) • III. AdagioConcerto for Piano and Orchestra op. 42 (1942)
III. AdagioEmanuel Ax (Piano), Esa-Pekka Salonen
Philharmonia Orchestra℗ 1993 - Adams • The Chairman Dances (1985)The Chairman Dances (1985)John Mauceri, Hollywood Bowl Symphony OrchestraSeptember 1992, Culver City
- Stravinsky • Agon (1957) • Part II: First Pas-de-Trois • 2. GaillardeAgon (1957)
Part II: First Pas-de-Trois • 2. GaillardeGustavo Gimeno, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg2017 - 2018, Luxembourg, Philharmonie Luxembourg - Korngold • Escape Me Never (arranged and reconstructed by John Morgan) • I. Escape Me NeverEscape Me Never (arranged and reconstructed by John Morgan)
I. Escape Me NeverWilliam Stromberg, Moscow Philharmonic OrchestraOctober 1995, Moscow, Mosfilm Studio in Moscow - Schoenberg • Chamber Symphony No. 2 op. 38 (1907-1908, rev. 1939) • II. Con fuocoChamber Symphony No. 2 op. 38 (1907-1908, rev. 1939)
II. Con fuocoJeffrey Tate, English Chamber Orchestra℗ 1988 - Horner • Pas de Deux for Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra (2014) • Part 1 ‒Pas de Deux for Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra (2014)
Part 1 ‒Mari Samuelsen (Violin), Håkon Samuelsen (Violoncello), Vasily Petrenko
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra℗ 2015 - Horner • Pas de Deux for Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra (2014) • Part 2 ‒Pas de Deux for Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra (2014)
Part 2 ‒Mari Samuelsen (Violin), Håkon Samuelsen (Violoncello), Vasily Petrenko
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra℗ 2015 - Horner • Pas de Deux for Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra (2014) • Part 3Pas de Deux for Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra (2014)
Part 3Mari Samuelsen (Violin), Håkon Samuelsen (Violoncello), Vasily Petrenko
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra℗ 2015 - Korngold • Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra in C major op. 37 • Allegro moderato ma con fuoco - Grave - Allegro moderato - GrandiosoConcerto for Violoncello and Orchestra in C major op. 37
Allegro moderato ma con fuoco - Grave - Allegro moderato - GrandiosoPeter Dixon (Violoncello), Matthias Bamert
BBC PhilharmonicJune 1996, Manchester, Studio 7, New Broadcasting House - Tilson Thomas • Poems of Emily Dickinson for Voice and Orchestra (2002) • 2. The biblePoems of Emily Dickinson for Voice and Orchestra (2002)
2. The bibleLisa Delan (Soprano), Lawrence Foster
Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille2017, Marseille, Friche la Belle de Mai - Tilson Thomas • Poems of Emily Dickinson for Voice and Orchestra (2002) • 3. FamePoems of Emily Dickinson for Voice and Orchestra (2002)
3. FameLisa Delan (Soprano), Lawrence Foster
Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille2017, Marseille, Friche la Belle de Mai - Adams • City Noir (2009) • III. Boulevard Night
- Muhly • Expecting the Main Things from You for Chorus, String Quartet, Percussion and Organ (2005) • 1. I Hear America SingingExpecting the Main Things from You for Chorus, String Quartet, Percussion and Organ (2005)
1. I Hear America SingingClaire Fedoruk (Soprano), Drea Pressley (Mezzo-soprano), Ralph Morrison (Violin), Steve Scharf (Violin), Kazi Pitelka (Viola), John Walz (Violoncello), Michael Englander (Percussion), Aaron Smith (Percussion), Joseph Mitchell (Percussion), Kimo Smith (Organ), Grant Gershon
Los Angeles Master ChoraleJune 2010, Los Angeles, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles - Holst • The Planets op. 32 H. 125 (1914-1916) • 7. Neptune, the MysticThe Planets op. 32 H. 125 (1914-1916)
7. Neptune, the MysticZubin Mehta, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale℗ 1971 - Gershwin • Second Rhapsody (1931) “Rhapsody in Rivets” • Allegro – Sostenuto e con moto – AllegroSecond Rhapsody (1931)
Allegro – Sostenuto e con moto – AllegroMichael Tilson Thomas (Piano), Michael Tilson Thomas
Los Angeles Philharmonic℗ 1985 - Muhly • A Good Understanding for Chorus, Organ and Percussion (2008) • A Good UnderstandingA Good Understanding for Chorus, Organ and Percussion (2008)
A Good UnderstandingKimo Smith (Organ), Michael Englander (Percussion), Grant Gershon
Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Children's ChorusJune 2010, Los Angeles, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles - Brahms • Symphony No. 2 in D major op. 73 • I. Allegro non troppoSymphony No. 2 in D major op. 73
I. Allegro non troppoCarlo Maria Giulini, Los Angeles Philharmonic℗ 1981 - Brahms • Symphony No. 2 in D major op. 73 • II. Adagio non troppoSymphony No. 2 in D major op. 73
II. Adagio non troppoCarlo Maria Giulini, Los Angeles Philharmonic℗ 1981 - Brahms • Symphony No. 2 in D major op. 73 • III. Allegretto grazioso (Quasi andantino)Symphony No. 2 in D major op. 73
III. Allegretto grazioso (Quasi andantino)Carlo Maria Giulini, Los Angeles Philharmonic℗ 1981 - Brahms • Symphony No. 2 in D major op. 73 • IV. Allegro con spiritoSymphony No. 2 in D major op. 73
IV. Allegro con spiritoCarlo Maria Giulini, Los Angeles Philharmonic℗ 1981 - Pärt • Symphony No. 4 (2008) “Los Angeles” • I. Con sublimità
- Pärt • Symphony No. 4 (2008) “Los Angeles” • II. Affannoso
- Pärt • Symphony No. 4 (2008) “Los Angeles” • III. Deciso
- Salonen • Helix for Orchestra (2005)
LA thrives on its position at the cusp of contrasting worlds – American and Hispanic, prosperous and downtrodden, popular and highbrow, digital and analogue. In the middle of the twentieth century, a group of avant-garde composers arrived from Europe just as the movie score was reaching its apotheosis. The result was one of the most extraordinary of classical music's melting pots that delivered, among other things, the distinctive orchestral sound that is West Coast Minimalism.
One venue dominates not just the classical music scene: Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown LA, its dancing metallic sails cutting through the LA haze and its organ pipes collapsing into disorder like something from a Tom & Jerry cartoon (they're known locally as the 'French Fries'). Despite its vomit-coloured seat fabric, the auditorium is wondrous and watching concerts here, from any seat, a privilege.
On stage, the Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) is in the midst of a golden age that has been on a steady crescendo for nearly three decades, powering towards its centenary in 2019. Music Director Gustavo Dudamel has reconnected the orchestra with the city's Hispanic roots and got Angelinos of all backgrounds excited about it again. Our playlist includes not only the best music written by residents and natives, but some of the LA Phil's best performances on record too, from Dudamel and his predecessors Esa-Pekka Salonen, Carlo Maria Giulini and Zubin Mehta.
[Due to geo-blocking restrictions, some tracks might be unavailable in certain territories.]