Twofer
Last night, we got two world premieres, both commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Both were conducted by the young Joana Carneiro.
Ursula Oppens both premiered Harold Meltzer’s new piano concerto called Privacy and stuck around for Dialogues by Elliott Carter.
Both Carter and Messiaen turn 100 this year, which explains why the previous Green Umbrella concert featured Messiaen’s Des Canyons Aux Etoiles.
Two of the works featured Spanish texts sung. Gabriela Frank’s New Andean Songs featured two singers, both mezzo-sopranos. In fact, the ensemble featured two of everything…two percussionists, two pianos, two singers.
A word about Ginastera’s Cantata para America Magica…the singer was drowned by a huge force of percussion behind her.
I think I’m going to see Dudamel…or as I’m going to start calling him, the Dude. I’ve heard he is intense and on fire. I will need to witness this, especially as 2009, when he takes over the LA Phil, is not too far away. The baton will be passed as Dudamel conducts one of Salonen’s works, Insomnia. Salonen will be missed come next year, but Dudamel is welcomed. Both have helped make and will continue to make the LA Phil the most exciting orchestra in America and possibly the world.
