Arts Preview: Classical works from Montreal, New York and L.A. orchestras, plus cello and Ojai festivals, are in the mix
Kent Nagano
Times critic Mark Swed’s list of spring classical music concerts of note, compiled by Matt Cooper.
MARCH 22-24
Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal
Music director Kent Nagano brings the orchestra to Southern California for three performances that include works by Debussy and Stravinsky plus Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 featuring pianist Daniil Trifonov.
March 22 at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert. Sold out. March 23 at Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., San Diego; $30-$105; (858) 459-3728; www.ljms.org. March 24 at the Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara; $31 and up; (805) 899-2222; www.granadasb.org
MARCH 26
Jennifer Koh, violin soloist
‘Bridge to Beethoven: Finding Identity Through Music, Program III’
This latest collaboration between violinist Jennifer Koh and pianist Shai Wosner features three of Beethoven’s Op. 30 sonatas paired with the world premieres of three companion pieces composed by Andrew Norman.
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; $39-$99; (310) 746-4000; www.thewallis.org
APRIL 23-MAY 7
FULL COVERAGE: Spring 2016 arts preview | Exhibits | Theater | Dance | Pop music | Books
‘JFK’
Events in the private life and political career of the 35th U.S. president are dramatized in the world premiere of composer David T. Little and librettist Royce Vavrek’s new opera, presented as part of the Fort Worth Opera Festival 2016; baritone Matthew Worth stars.
Fort Worth Opera, Bass Performance Hall, 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth, Texas; $17-$195; www.fwopera.org
MAY 3
New York Philharmonic
In this exclusive Southern California engagement, music director Alan Gilbert leads the orchestra in Brahms’ “Tragic†Overture and Symphony No. 2 plus Schumann’s Cello Concerto featuring cellist Carter Brey; presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa; $50 and up; (949) 553-2422; www.philharmonicsociety.org
MAY 6, 8
‘Theatre of the World’
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, under guest conductor Reinbert de Leeuw, stages the world premiere of Dutch composer Louis Andriessen’s new multimedia-enhanced opera inspired by the life and times of the 17th-century German Jesuit scholar and polymath Athanasius Kircher.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. May 6, 2 p.m. May 8; $26.50-$170.50; (323) 850-2000; www.laphil.com
MAY 13-22
Yo-Yo Ma
Piatigorsky International Cello Festival
Ten-day extravaganza features myriad performances at Disney Hall and USC. Performers include Yo-Yo Ma, Raphael Wallfisch, the L.A. Phil’s Robert deMaine, the Calder Quartet, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Sakura Cello Ensemble.
Disney Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A.; $26.50-$203.50; (323) 850-2000; www.laphil.com. Alfred Newman Recital Hall, Bovard Auditorium and Schoenfeld Symphonic Hall, USC; various prices, some free events; (213) 740-4672; piatigorskyfestival.usc.edu/
JUNE 9-12
Ojai Music Festival
Theater artist Peter Sellars serves as music director for the 70th edition of the four-day festival, which features the U.S. premieres of Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho’s “La Passion de Simone†and “Only the Sound Remains,†plus works by Caroline Shaw and Carla Kihlstedt.
Libbey Bowl, 210 S. Signal St., Ojai, and other venues; passes $55-$860; “Only the Sound Remains,†$150; (805) 646-2053; www.ojaifestival.org
JUNE 16-19
David Lang, Oscar nominee for the original song “Simple Song #3†in the film Youth
‘Anatomy Theater’
Los Angeles Opera presents the world premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang and visual artist Mark Dion’s dark drama based on the true story of a convicted murderess in 18th-century England; contains violence, mature themes and adult language.
REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., L.A.; $69; (213) 972-8001; www.laopera.org
AUG. 20-29
Gustavo Dudamel
‘West Side Story’
International star Cecilia Bartoli will sing the role of Maria when the L.A. Phil’s Gustavo Dudamel conducts a new production of the Leonard Bernstein classic as part of the Salzburg Festival in Austria. Sold out. www.salzburgerfestspiele.at
MORE SPRING PREVIEW:
Theatrical works to see: From ‘A Gentleman’s Guide’ to John Leguizamo to ‘Shakespeare 400’
Art exhibits featuring Marilyn Minter, Roman mosaics and Agnes Martin highlight the Spring
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
