Beguiled by Beethoven and John Luther Adams

By Thomas May, 15 November 2015

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Reviewed at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles on 14 November 2015

Beethoven, Violin Concerto in D major, Op.61

Adams, Become Ocean

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Ludovic Morlot, Conductor

Sergey Khachatryan, Violin

It’s a hero’s life for Gustavo Dudamel at Disney Hall

Néstor Castiglione, 29th May

Dudamel closes in on the end of his Disney Hall tenure in heroic style with Richard Strauss’ tone poem, Ein Heldenleben.

****1

Dudamel’s LA Phil Walküre proves worth the wait

Matthew Richard Martinez, 21st May

An enveloping performance of Die Walküre spans three consecutive evenings, featuring world class singing in Frank Gehry’s stunning space.

****1

LA Phil celebrates the California spirit with Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Cameron Kelsall, 3rd May

The program features Maria Dueñas in Korngold's Violin Concerto and a moving tribute to LA native Michael Tilson Thomas

****1

A cerebral bacchanalia: Young's bold, brainy Messiaen at Disney Hall

Néstor Castiglione, 10th April

Simone Young's take on Messiaen's Turangalîla with the Los Angeles Philharmonic proves a night to remember.

*****

Dudamel and Catalan choirs dazzle in Beethoven’s Missa solemnis

Néstor Castiglione, 20th February

In Los Angeles, Gustavo Dudamel conducts Beethoven's Missa solemnis for the first time... and it proves worth the wait.

*****

Shock, spectacle and endurance: Yuja Wang and Thomas Adès at full tilt

Laurence Vittes, 8th February

If Prokofiev’s original intention in his Second Piano Concerto was shock and awe, Yuja Wang gives exactly the right performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

***11

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Thomas May

Thomas May is a writer and translator based in Seattle. His books include Decoding Wagner and The John Adams Reader, and he blogs about the arts at memeteria.com. He has written for The Washington Post, Gramophone, Listen, Symphony magazine, OPERA America, crosscut.com, and many other publications.

Music for a While: Beguiled by Beethoven and John Luther Adams in Los Angeles