STRIKING A CHORD
The Los Angeles Master Chorale kicked off its 46th season at Walt Disney Concert Hall with an intense and varied opening night program. The evening featured the Los Angeles premiere of John Adam’s “Choruses From the Death of Klinghoffer.” For maximum contrast, Music Director Grant Gershon paired the emotionally gripping work with Mozart’s “Requiem.”
“I was very excited about presenting these two works on the same program,” Gershon explained. “Although Mozart’s work was written over 200 years ago, and John’s less than 20, they share a powerful operatic element and have extremely compelling back stories. They also serve to showcase the Chorale’s extraordinarily diverse artistic capabilities.”
Following the program, guests made their way into BP Hall for a gala dinner. The place was done up in shades of pewter and midnight blue and the tables were festooned with South American blue roses, Manzanita branches, blue thistle and South African protea.
Music lovers tucked into plates of smoked salmon and caramelized onions served with slices of roast beef and a blue cheese potato soufflé.
In keeping with tradition, the chorale serenaded diners with its signature “Surround-Sing.” Performers delighted the crowd with Mozart’s “Ave Verum Corpus,” and Copland’s riveting “Zion’s Walls.”
Cooper Thornton served as this year’s hard working auctioneer. Seven items were up for grabs, including a musical salon for 16 with Grant Gershon and soprano Elissa Johnston as well as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conduct the “Hallelujah Chorus.”
The gala raised more than $210,000 to keep the chorale humming along.
DECK THE HALLS
The Master Chorale’s splashy extravaganza was just the start of a season of music and merrymaking at Disney Hall. On Saturday, Christmas gets into full swing with the Chorale’s “Holiday Wonders” program. With classics like “Joy to the World” and “First Noel,” it’s bound to get you in the spirit. Next, the Los Angeles Philharmonic rolls out its “Holiday Organ Spectacular.” David Higgs is at the helm of one of the world’s most impressive musical instruments and will be joined by Mindy Ball on harp. “Handel’s Messiah” features period instruments and a stellar line up of Baroque soloists. There’s also the Chorale’s popular “Messiah Sing-Along” which puts the you in yuletide. For kids of all ages, check out the Phil’s “Holiday Sing-Along.” There’ll be family favorites like “Rudolph,” and “Frosty,” plus a whole lot of ho, ho, ho.
The season kicks into high gear with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band that’ll be spicing things with “A Creole Christmas.” Then, you can ring and swing in the new year with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. No doubt about it, with Daddy and the boys on board, you can be sure the joint will be jumping.
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